Charlie

This is a story written entirely with dialogue.

Hey Brian, you wanna go get a beer after work tonight? I can’t stand to be at home right now.

Sure. What time do you think you’ll be done with this project for the day? You should be close to finished by now, you’ve been working on it for three weeks.

I don’t know. I could probably sit here for the next four days straight and not get it done. My brain is just not focusing anymore. I am not sure I want to keep doing this. It’s kinda killing me.

Well - what would you want to do if you left here?

I have no idea, that’s the problem. I really don't know what I want to do with the rest of my life now that Julie is gone. I thought I could just, you know, bury myself with work, or go to a bar and get drunk or something every night. I just can’t bring myself to do much of anything anymore.

I think that’s normal. You gotta give it time. It’s only been four months since she died. I know it’s difficult, but you’ll get through it. At least that’s what all the books will tell you.

How much time?

I’m not sure. Wish I had an answer for you.

You ready? I want to get outta here. Just not much point sitting here staring at this computer. Nothing’s getting done anyway.

Whatcha havin?

Uhhhh, just give me a draft Modelo.

Comin’ right up … and you? What can I getcha?

Give me the same - sounds good. So … how are you and Sarah doing? Anything new and exciting?

Uuuh, let’s see, there is the, uh, the other day we, we went to this thing she wanted to go, well, crap. No - nothing is friggin new at all. Same old crap really.

I hear ya. When I think back on the last few years before Julie died, I keep beating myself up, thinking I wasted our time together. Didn’t cherish every moment, you know? I wish I had done so many things differently.

Like what?

I dunno, like, maybe we should have talked more, listened more, taken long walks in the mountains like we did when we were younger. It always seemed that life got in the way of living your life. That’s stupid. That doesn’t make any sense.

Actually, it does. I feel the same way sometimes.

Well, good news for you. You and Sarah have the chance to do it. Do anything you want. Do everything you want. Don’t let the days slip by man, you never know when it’s gonna get ripped from you.

Heard!

Daniel - good morning good sir. How’s the head?

What do you mean?

I figured after the thirty beers you had last night, you’d be a hurtin’ dude.

Naaaa, it seems I have built a tolerance to it. Doesn’t bother me anymore. Must be widower alcoholism? Is there such a thing?

Well, if there isn’t, there should be. Would explain a lot of things. You know, I was layin’ in bed last night, and I had an idea for you.

Yeah, what’s that? Take out a million dollar life insurance policy, name you beneficiary, then call it quits and make you and Sarah very very happy? Independently wealthy and you don’t have to deal with my sorry ass anymore?

Not exactly what I had in mind, no! But what I was thinking - I was thinking you should get … you should get a dog. You have mentioned it over the years, maybe now is the time.

Not sure that’s gonna solve my problems.

What will?

No idea.

Brian? Hey, it’s me ….. yep ….. not really …. Hey, can you swing by the house this morning, say around 10? Great, see you then.

Hey man, thanks for coming. Come on in.

So ….. what’s up?

Ahhhh, nothin’ really. Just wanted you to meet someone. Charlie? Charlie? Comehere girl.

Dude, you said you didn’t want a dog?

I lied. I love dogs, always have. I had an old terrier when I was a kid. I loved that dog, even though he never did a damn thing I asked him to do. And he would shit on the carpet if he got mad at me. Stupid dog …. Anyway, this is Charlie.

She is adorable. How old?

The folks at the shelter were not sure how old, but probably around 8 or 9 months. She still has her sharp little puppy needle teeth. She got me with them just this morning.

She’s a …. a terrier of some kind? Norfolk Terrier maybe?

Yep, sounds about right. Again, they have no idea what breed she is. Doesn’t really matter. She’s cute, right?

Yep.

The only weird thing they said at the shelter is that she … she never barks. At anything. For any reason?

That’s good though right? I mean, having a barky, yappitty little dog is annoying!

You’re right. It’s nice, just weird. In some ways, I always thought that when dogs bark, they are actually talking to you - trying to communicate. Do you think that’s true?

Sure. So, you got her this morning? Does she do any tricks?

Yep, scooped her up this morning. And not really. She can sit and take a treat, but that’s about it. Gotta a lot of work to do.

Charlie? Come. Charlie? Good girl. Sit. Good girl. Shake? You’ll get a treat! Shake! Shake? …… we’ll work on that. So, what do you want to do today? It’s a beautiful Sunday morning, the sun is out, it’s not too hot today. Wanna go for a hike? Julie always loved the hikes we took. I wish we had taken more hikes together. I wish we had done a lot of things together before she left. Why did she have to leave so soon, Charlie? Why? Why did she have to leave me? I think maybe the only reason I haven’t jumped off a bridge by now is because of you. I love you Charlie!

I love you too, Daniel.

What did you just … wait? You can talk? Am I dreaming right now, a Dr. Dolittle thing goin’ on?

Nope. I can talk. I have been listening to you for the last several months, and I can’t keep it in any longer. They told me I wasn’t allowed to talk to you, that it would upset the balance we have with humans. But I don’t care. I love you - always have. I have loved you since the very first day I saw you in that Political Science class in college. You remember that day, don’t you?

That day? You mean … college? … who they? Who is they? The people that told you that it was bad to talk to us? I mean, humans. Us! Who is they?

God, silly. Who else would you think?

I have no idea? Wait … I am confused. How do you know where we met? I mean, where Julie and I met? How do you know about … that Poly Sci class. And College?

I know about it because I was there. It’s me, Daniel. It’s Julie. Remember when we used to talk about, if we ever died, and we could come back as any animal we wanted, what would it be? And you wanted to come back as an eagle, living high in the mountains of Alaska, fishing the glacial rivers and flying over Denali in the summer sun?!

How do you know that? How do you know I wanted to come back as an eagle? Oh my God! Julie? How is this possible?

I am not sure, but they told me I could be anything I wanted - so I chose to come back to you. I wanted to come back to the love of my life. I wanted to be with you, sit next to you, have you scratch my back, take me for walks … like we used to. So, can we go on that walk now?

Uhhhhmmm, give me a sec. So you are telling me - wait, I can’t believe I just said that. A DOG is telling me she is my dead wife, and she has been given a second chance to live again, with me, as my dog? As my … my pet?

Yup!!

Are you serious?

Yup!!

I need a friggin drink!

Na, forget the drink. Let’s do that walk now. You said it yourself, it’s a beautiful day out. We are together, and I am so happy that I can be here for you again. Let’s go.

Let me get your leash. Wait, do you need a leash?

Not really. I can walk with you off leash, livin’ the off leash life, as they say. Sounds fun.

Ok then, let’s go.

Have you ever noticed those mountains over there? How beautiful they are? With the snow caps. And the clouds around the top like it’s a magnificent home for the gods?

Yes, I have always loved the mountains. I am just glad you are enjoying the walk. Oh no, here comes our neighbor Barb. She’s fine I guess, but she’s a crazy old lady.

Don’t say that Daniel. I am sure she is very sweet.

Sure, sweet like the sweet of an old lime that’s been sitting on the counter for a month - Hello Barb. How are you today?

Fine, thank you. And how is my little Charlie today? Hello sweet girl. Nice day for a walk, isn’t it?

Sure is. Nice day. We were just admiring the view of the mountains this morning.

Bark, Bark!!

I guess you are enjoying your walk too, huh Charlie? That’s a good girl. Well, gotta get home, my granddaughter is coming over soon.

She’s a nice old lady. It’s always nice to see her.

Why did you bark at her?

What did you want me to do? Would you rather I spoke up and said what a nice day it was and that we are on a walk and my name is really Julie and I used to live with Daniel as his wife and oh, by the way, now I am a dog??

Right. I get your point. She probably would have had a coronary.

Charlie? Charlie? Where are you? Oh, there you are. Do you want some dinner? Uhhhh, actually I have been meaning to ask you. You want me to make you something better? I mean, like human food or something?

Nope. The dog food is actually pretty good. I guess since I am a dog now, I like dog stuff. Those chewy treats you give me are tasty too. Go figure.

That’s weird. I guess it makes sense … but it’s weird, since you are my wife, were my …. Oh never mind. It doesn’t make any sense actually. And I have been meaning to ask you. Do you want me to start calling you Julie? I mean, that is, or was, is, your name, right?

Nope - I am cool with Charlie. I kinda like it.

Welp. Ok. We’ll stick with Charlie. Anyway, here is your supper. Enjoy.

Thank you Daniel.

Sure.

This show is stupid, don’t you think? I mean, a bunch of people running around a desert island, trying to start fires and build stick shelters for prize money! Really!? Wanna watch the football game instead? Oh, wait. You hate football. Never mind, we’ll keep watching this.

You can turn on the game, I don’t mind. I am not watching anyway. I just want to be here. Be here with you. Doing, whatever you want to do. Because, I feel now, my entire mission in life is to be with you. To love you, unconditionally. To listen about work, about your friends Brian and Sarah, about the weather, about the stupid can opener that never seems to work. I am here for you. Forever. I love you Daniel. Always have. Always will. I am sorry I had to go so soon, so young. But, they told me everything will work out. Everything will be OK. We just have to trust. We just have to believe.

I do believe. I love you Julie - I mean Charlie. I love you so much. I am glad you are here. I missed you. I missed you so much.