A Lost Puppy by Joy Rajan

 A Lost Puppy

A Short Story by Joy Rajan

        My mom and I struggled. She and I just couldn't rest at the thought of seeing his lovely little face. O! he had the sweetest eyes and when he looked at you -you could not deny the love is his eyes. But then again

    Dad had recently taken ill. Four years after my father passed away from terminal cancer, Duke was also diagnosed with cancer. And within a year he was gone. He was ten years old.

    I know we agreed (well my mom told us no) on large breeds. And Duke being a German Shepherd was for sure not ideal from Mom. But then again dad loved him. And so did Mom did eventually I could tell with his personality that he could not resist being a hero. He was a black bundle of fur and delight. 

He helped mom so much with everything. More importantly he gave her the comfort that she lost when Dad was gone. Duke was ten when he got diagnosed with cancer. Like Dad, Duke was taken from us. We were all heartbroken and couldn't bring ourselves to get another pooch to fill the void. A few years later I got Bailey. A beautiful Border Collie. 

    I suppose many people would get a dog right away. But me I couldn't. Duke's death was still really raw to me.  There was no denying that Dad loved Duke more than any of us. Words can't describe the bond. And looking back I think Duke held on as long as he could for Mom and I.

    And as I looked at this little fur ball. My own dog and he looked at me with his mischievous eyes I knew I was in a world of trouble. But I agreed and said yes to him. My mother agreed. 

    "Well what do you think Jennifer?" I looked up at to see beautiful blue eyes looking at me. I froze. I couldn't believe she was smiling at me. Then it hit me. She was the one I met at the queer boardgames night. 

    "My mom and I will take him home." "Great! Mom can take care of the paperwork while I ask you a few questions." My mother gave her a strange look. I just shrugged and when she left Jennifer kissed me quickly on the lips.

    "I wanted to do that to you that night, but you ran off. I couldn't get your number and I thought I would never see you again. And here you are." "You can have my number now." said I grinning. She laughed and we exchanged numbers. 

    What a day. I got a dog to fill the puppy void and I got to meet the woman who got away. O I really hope this works out!!

    Sure enough it did. I was so relieved. Bailey, turned out to be the crazy mischief I thought she would be. But my mom was beaming. And to her Bailey could do no wrong. You know how they always say "Blame the dog." Yes well instead of the dog being blamed it was me. "O just blame Judy." Just great. 

    I will never forget that day Bailey went missing. We were playing in the dog park. Mom was watching Bailey with her friends and I had gone to fill her water bowl at the the fountain when I heard my mom panicking. 

    Bailey and her friend Tabby were gone. 

    I filed a report at the police and the shelter. Even Jennifer helped to create posters and we put them all around. Word spread. It was a tough year. I thought we would never find those two again. 

    It was a sunny morning on a a Saturday. I was too upset to get out of bed. I felt an urge to do so. reluctantly I did. I went to check on my mom. She was absolutely distraught and I could tell she hasn't eaten. All that pain and loss was overwhelming her and I could see her drowning. I called Jen and she took us out to brunch and to a beach. 

    We walked along the water -the same beach we'd take Bailey. Jen's phone rang. It was about Bailey, They found her. Her and all the dogs that were missing. The police had managed to track them down after several people reported a man acting suspiciously by an abandoned barn just outside our home town. 

    We rushed to the station and there was Bailey. She looked at us and immediately knew who we were. She threw herself on us and showered us with kisses. 

    Jen, forgetting herself, embraced me and we kissed. I froze for a moment. Mom didn't care. 

    "I knew about the two of you from the beginning." She said laughing as Bailey kept kissing her. We all laughed.

End