Cherry Girl

Ah, this was the life. Picking up food scraps and getting tummy scratches was my ideal way to end the night. My owner’s name is Janie, and she is my world. The best part of it all was the fact that she chose me. Me! Out of every dog at the shelter, I managed to catch her eye. I can’t tell you how I did it, but I know it must have been destined to happen.

Some nights, Janie likes to host parties like this one. A lot of people swarm our backyard and of course there’s delicious food involved. These parties last long into the night when the summer air gets cool enough so I don’t have to pant anymore.

I wander through the sea of legs trying to navigate my water bowl. My tongue sits like paper in my mouth after all the salty food I’d been eating. I find my bowl without getting stepped on, and huff at the sight of it. There may as well be spiders crawling inside. I look around at the guests but it seems nobody notices my empty bowl. I bark to get someone’s attention, and she bends down to pat my head.

“Is the poor baby out of water?” She pouts. I wag my tail as she picks it up and disappears into the house. My tail continues to swish back and forth as I sit patiently at the door. My bear sits next to me while I wait. I take him with me wherever I go.

The door is glass, so I can see the lady holding my bowl full of precious water. She’s close to the door now and my body fills with so much excitement I can hardly sit still. Before she reaches for the handle, someone taps her shoulder and she turns to him.

I can’t hear what they’re saying, but it must be something very special to make her easily forget about my water. She sets my bowl down on the counter and wanders away with the man.

Party chatter pulls my attention away from the door and I rejoin the guests.

The night slowly comes to an end and the guests begin to leave. Eventually, it’s just me and Janie. My favorite part of the night is when it’s just me and her. It means I don’t have to share her with anyone else. Why would I, when she is so special to me?

She plops down on the couch and I take the opportunity to snuggle with her.

“Ew, get off me Cherry. You smell like grass.” She shoves me away from her and pulls out her phone. I don’t know what she does with it, but it’s very important to her. I don’t like bothering her when she’s looking at it, or else she gets pretty mad. I curl up on the other end of the couch with my bear and admire her. Her fingers move ferociously across the screen and every once in a while she’ll sigh or grumble or whine. Janie is a very pretty girl. I probably have the prettiest owner out there. I am very lucky to have been chosen by her.

A few hours pass and my eyelids begin to feel very heavy, though it’s hard to take a nap when my throat is this dry. I jump off the couch and make my way to the kitchen where I last remember seeing my bowl. It still sat there. That glorious bowl of fresh water. I whine, hoping to get Janie’s attention so she will notice my bowl. She’d be heartbroken to know it had been sitting up here all night. She probably doesn’t even know how thirsty I am because of how busy she was with the party guests.

She doesn’t look up from her phone. She must be really busy, and I feel bad having to distract her with such a lousy request. I whine again and glance at her. She rolls her eyes while aggressively tapping at the screen. This time I bark and it catches her attention. Janie looks over at me and I wag my tail and jump at the counter.

“No, Cherry. You had plenty of food tonight. No more.”

So close.

I bark louder hoping she notices my bowl. She slams her hands into the couch and grunts. “Is barking all you know how to do?” She goes into another room and closes the door. I lay down in defeat. I know she’ll give me my water bowl like she always does.

Something heavy pounds on the door and wakes me from my sleep. I bark at the noise but cough from the dryness in my throat. My bowl is still on the counter. Janie’s door opens and I wag my tail to greet her, but she doesn’t look at me. She goes right to the front door. I love when we have visitors, even if Janie doesn’t look happy with them all the time.

A man is standing at the door and he starts to yell at Janie. I bark again to hopefully get him to stop, but my throat is too dry to keep barking. So, I just sit in the kitchen and watch the argument go downhill.

“I told you to stay away from me!” Janie screams in his face.

“I’m still paying for my half. You can’t tell me where I can and can’t stay.” The man shoves past her and into the house. He looks at me and I stand up, excited to greet him. Maybe he will notice my water bowl and get it down for me. “You still have that stupid dog?”

“I don’t know, I’ve been meaning to get rid of it.” Janie rubs her arm. “Can we just talk, please?” Her and the man go into her bedroom and close the door.

Stupid dog? What does that mean? Janie loves me, and I love her. I hear a creaking noise and see the wind pushing the front door open slightly. For a brief moment, the thought of escaping crosses my mind. That would be foolish though. Why would I run from an owner who takes care of me? I have everything I need right here. Shelter, food, water…

Well, it’s okay to sometimes forget. I just need to find water, then I’ll come right back before Janie notices that I’m gone.

I grab my bear from where I left him last. He’s been with me since I was a puppy, and he looks all scruffy but that just means he’s well loved. I set him on the couch where Janie loves to sit; a small reminder of me and that I will be back soon.

Something in me holds me there a little longer. I find it difficult to part with my bear, until I remind myself I will be back for him. I give him a good nudge, then I slip out the door.

Finding water shouldn’t be too hard. Cars are flying past me in all directions and I put my tail between my legs. I’m nervous and lost. Faces look unfamiliar and there are so many loud noises.

I look up just in time to see a car heading straight for me, but my body freezes in fear. I don’t know what to do.

* * *

My eyes flutter open and I’m laying in a field of tall grass. The slight breeze brushes the grass against my fur. I don’t remember how I got here or what I’m doing.

Water!

That’s right, I was looking for water. I need to hurry and find some so Janie doesn’t worry that I’m gone. Although, my throat is no longer dry. My stomach doesn’t grumble or ache. I feel perfectly at peace. Janie must have found me and given me some food and water. My bear is laying by my side. She even fixed him for me! He looks just as he did when I was a puppy.

I hear the familiar bark of a dog I once knew. She runs up to me and we jump and spin. Jill! She is my sister and we lived together before Janie rescued me. I never knew what happened to Jill, but she must have had an owner just like mine, because she looks amazing. Well fed and groomed, full of life and energy.

Other dogs play in the distance, and Jill runs over to join them. I grab my bear and run towards them too, eager to make some new friends. I’m sure Janie won’t mind if I play just for a little bit.