I
1436 Words
ITHAT MORNING I ROLLED over, bleary and tousle-headed to see my dog Wilma looking back at me.
"Good morning," the thought came to my head. "If you'd lay off those night-caps we can get your weight down and get a you laid more often."
The idea of this brought a smile to my face.
"Now that I have your attention, let's go for a walk before breakfast. You've got time before you have to go to your work." The thought had a some sense to it. "Of course it's sensible. Now get up, we have to get going. I'll wait until you put on your clothes."
At that my golden-haired red heeler, Wilma, stood and went to wait by the door to the room. "Come on, get up. Let's go." And just stared at me.
I looked at the clock, saw I had a half-hour before I usually got up to make my breakfast, and rolled over.
It only took a couple of tugs before my blanket and top sheet were on the floor.
That got my attention. I sat up. My dog let go of the bed clothes corner he had been pulling on and smiled.
"What are you doing?" I asked, looking at her through my bleary eyes.
"Taking care of my human," came the reply. "Come on. I meant what I said. It's time to change your habits to make you happier."
Couldn't argue with that. Especially now that I was awake. I swiveled my feet over to the floor and felt the cool carpet underneath them.
"Good boy! Let's get those sweats on. You can do it!" Wilma was encouraging.
Of course I resented it. Sounded like I was in training for something.
"Of course you're in training. Humans have to be trained every day of their lives. I'm not going to be around forever, so you've got to learn to survive so your next Master will be able to pick up where I left off and hopefully help you retire in grace." Wilma c****d her head at me, wondering if I got it.
"This is all just a bit new. How, I mean, why, what..." I quit talking and just sent her my thoughts, jumbled as they were.
"Now you're getting it. We can have all sorts of discussions once you quit using your human speech. So backward and clumsy." Wilma rose and again walked to the door. "Sweats. Socks. Tennies."
Knowing I had no other choice, I complied. Sweats were hanging behind the door, white socks in a top drawer, Running shoes lined up on the floor under the dresser legs. Simple. In a few minutes, I was dressed and moving toward the front door. "No coffee?"
"No coffee. Get up, get some exercise. Get that metabolism going." Wilma insisted.
"Wait." I ducked into the bathroom to relieve myself.
Wilma had no comment at this. She was waiting when I finished, patiently.
"OK, I'm ready." I sent.
"That you are." She moved through the hallway, her toenails clicking on the wood floor, and waited by the door for me to open it.
Once we were through the door, she led off at a trot across the yard to the sidewalk. Pausing here, she looked back. "Well? OK, yes, stretch a little bit - like I do. You've got to get this habit in when you get out of bed. Arms overhead, side to side, each leg. You've got it. Time to move." And she started off down the concrete.
I had to take long steps to keep up with her. And wasn't succeeding. She'd be in traffic soon if I didn't catch up with her.
"Well, a trot would be nice - I think you call it jogging." Wilma sent.
"Yes, we call it jogging," as I broke into a jog, and it turned out to be comfortable. My being irked at her training approach turned into appreciation.
"Because you know it's for your own good." Wilma was panting now and keeping up a steady pace just ahead of me. "We'll round the block today and that will be a good start. You're in training now."
"Training for what?" I sent.
"We're going to get you a mate and sire a litter of your own."
I stopped at that, breathing heavy.
Wilma stopped and sat, panting, but not like mine. "Isn't that what you want? Well, we have to move. First steps first." She rose and turned to walk off, but was still looking at me.
I didn't move, so she turned back. "Look, I know this is sudden, but I'll explain more later. We only have so much time for this exercise before you have to get to work. And breakfast is between now and then. So keep up." Then Wilma trotted off.
We were halfway around the block, and I had no real choice. She was making too much sense this morning. So I jogged a bit faster to catch up. By the time I got to my home again, she was sitting and waiting by the front door to be let in.
"Why don't you use your own door?" I asked by thought.
"Because I need to make sure you keep your schedule. Come on, let me in. It's time for you to shower and make your breakfast." She rose, and looked at the crack in the door, waiting for me to turn that knob.
So I did. Too logical. Too sensible.
When I came out of my bedroom into the hallway, she was waiting again. I was showered, shaved and had my usual slacks and dress shirt on, with my work shoes on. I pulled out my tan corduroy jacket with the elbow patches, with the idea of wearing something different today. Looking down at my shoes, I saw some dust on them and brushed them off on the back of my pant legs.
"We'll work on that bad habit later. But first is breakfast and we'll go over your schedule." Wilma was going to change my life, one piece at a time. We walked into the kitchen and her claws again tick-tacked on the tile.
"How is that you're in my head now?" I sent to her.
"I've always been there, it's just that you started listening to me last night for the first time. Some humans take longer, I've heard, and some never get it. You're right around average. You're a good boy." Wilma was smiling. "Eggs today, lay off that sugar-cereal. We have to get your weight down. Your in training now."
I pulled out two eggs from the refrigerator and felt her insistence - three eggs.
Frying pan with a bit of oil. Wilma made me make a mental note to get coconut oil to replace that vegetable oil, and get some cottage cheese for omelet makings as well. Yes, I was in training. And I loved my coach.
"I love you, too. While they're cooking, fill my bowls so I have my own meals today." Wilma was sitting to the side, out of my way, smiling as usual.
I filled her food bowl with a pouring of dog bits, and her water bowl from the tap. Then I could smell my eggs as they were getting a bit hot, so turned to them with a stainless spatula to flip them once, taking them off the heat. I was about to put in bread for toast when Wilma interrupted.
"Nope. you're off all wheat until you learn to eat properly. And get some milk to wash it all down with. No coffee until you get to work. That's where you'll meet her today.
I put my three eggs and milk on my counter, sliding into a high chair near by. Wilma went to her own breakfast, eating only a few bites and lapping up a few mouthfuls before moving over to her brown rag-rug to lay down. Watching me eat, before laying her head down on her paws.
I'd finished off my eggs and eyed the jam on the counter.
"Of course you think you're hungry. But you don't have time to fix anything else now - you're in training and training means schedules. Time to go to work." Wilma was in my mind, but hadn't moved her head off her paws. "I'll keep track of you from here, don't worry. Run some water over that plate and fork. Truck keys are next."
She knew my patterns well. "OK, OK, not like I haven't done this before."
"Sorry, don't mean to push, but you have to see her when you're parking this morning." Wilma sent.
"Her?" I asked.
"Your new mate." Wilma turned at that and went to go find her dog bed. Or at least that's what I thought she'd be doing.
"One last thing," Wilma sent from the living room. "That color she's wearing today is russet. But her favorite is teal."
- Writer
