For my son - because he hated walking the dog. Now he's too scared.
The pain was starting again…weak at first but it would get stronger. If he didn’t do something soon the pain would get so strong he wouldn’t be able to move. He would be at his most venerable then. And he didn’t want to be venerable. He needed something to eat.
There were things to eat near him. Tiny four legged things that in the beginning had tried to eat him - they almost did. A single nibble at first, then came more of them until finally they came in swarms - tails curled, lips snarled back bearing tiny sharp teeth. They were nasty things. When the pain first came he was little and unknowing - they were biting and tearing at pieces of him. In his fog of fear and pain he struck out, causing one to get caught near his sucker. Immediately the pain lessened. Not completely…just enough to let him know that the way to get rid of the pain was to eat. And eat he did.
It wasn’t long until he was bigger than the little four legged things. They still attacked, but now they only did it one or two at a time. They were cautious and did not come near him anymore. They were fast, scurrying away whenever he reached out to eat. They were fast, but he discovered another thing about himself - he was faster.
He had also outgrown the things. He was much bigger now and needed more to eat than these things could provide. When he could feast on them for hours at a time, it was okay that they were his only sustinance. But now, it would take hundreds just to survive the day. So he had gone out seeking new sources, and had found it.
The sounds came from above. Like all the sounds since he had found himself far away from the place he remembered, the sounds now from all around. These sounds were near by… getting closer but not at a steady pace. There were two sets of sounds, one the tap-tap-tap-tap of a four-legged thing, rapidly and lightly tapping out the route taken. The other, a plodding THUD…..THUD of something big and heavy. The big one seemed to be following the smaller one. The small one would dart around a lot, running a short distance then disappearing, only to start up again going in a different direction a moment later - but yet coming toward him.
He gathered up and positioned himself near the opening to the light area above. It seemed the four legged thing was more likely to come this way.
The pain was getting really bad now. It would take a lot of eating to stop it this time.
The tap-tap-tap-tap was close now. He could feel the heat from it body wash over him as it came nearer. Closer…closer ;almost close enough. The pain was really bad now.
. . . . .
They had taken the same walk each night for the past week. Sure, it was late…after 11:30…but the dog really enjoyed the walk. As a matter of fact, so did Homer. He very seldom got out for any real physical exercise anymore. Mitzi didn’t walk all that fast, she only weighed 10 pounds and had short legs. She wasn’t really much more than a pup but had the curiosity of a cat. Every tree, bush, pole, even every blade of grass seemed to hold a special spell that caused her to stop and sniff. Tonight the sewer grates seemed to hold some kind of special spell. Normally, Mitzi steered well clear of the street grates, even though they were covered by a metal grid. Usually she gave them a wide berth, not even bothering to sniff the opening. Tonight however, she seemed to pay some attention them. She would warily sniff the air around the grate, then, with noes twitching, she would slowly sneak up to the grate, sniff a time or two, then scoot off in another direction, like nothing was there to keep her interest.
Somebody must have dumped some grass down the sewer again thought Homer. One of the families down near the corner was always dumping the clipping from the yard near the open field. Mitzi must smell the grass rotting.
“Come on, girl. Lets go home.” Homer said, nudging gently on the reel leash attached to Mitzi’s collar. Mitzi could run out for 25 feet without being stopped. When she got stubborn, that 25 feet could seem like 25 miles.
It was a nice night out. A three-quarter moon provided plenty of light. Homer nudged the leash again and Mitzi reluctantly gave up her interesting bush and it came tromping down the street. She did a quick turn near the sewer again and acted as if she wanted to go over and make a visit again. Homer tightened the slack in the leash and urged her to come on. She did.
. . . . .
He was in position…waiting. The pain was coming in waves now. If he didn’t get food soon it would be very hard to make the pain go away. He decided that he didn’t want the four-legged thing now. He wanted the big thud-thud thing. It would probably be enough to satisfy his hunger all night. He could tell that they were getting closer. The four-legged thing was near…near….here it comes. If it came close enough then he could reach the big thing too. Wait…it’s not coming. It was being forced to move on down . He would need to keep up and get in position again.
He didn’t run exactly, but was able to travel through the sewer and reached the next grate before the four-legged thing and the big thing got there. When he needed to he could travel fast. Very fast.
. . . . .
“Come on girl, time to go in.” Homer said as he turned toward their driveway. “Come on girl, what’s so interesting over there anyway, hum? Come on, your going to fall in the thing.”
The four-legged thing was coming closer now. It was close enough, but he wanted the big thing. Here it came, the thud…thud shaking the ground as came nearer. Okay he thought, its coming now. Another few feet and it would be close enough. He didn’t know how fast it could run or how strong it was, but he did know that if he didn’t eat soon, he could die. If he missed this, it would mean he’d have to chase the little things with the bushy tails. They were fast and it took a lot of the things to make a meal.
“All right Mitz…lets go in now.” said Homer. “Whatever you like over there will stay until tomorrow. Let go girl, now.”
No…the big thing had stopped coming. It was making the four-legged thing move away too. There was no path over there. They needed to come this way. Don’t stop! No! Maybe he could still get the four-legged thing if he moved fast…he reached out for the meal…
. . . . .
Homer felt a little tug on the leash but didn't even look back. He could feel Mitzi tug a little on the leash and then heard a short growl. She doesn’t want to go in yet thought Homer, but it’s time.
. . . . .
He had missed. The four-legged thing had jumped and he had missed. It had sensed his presence and had turned toward the grate and growled a short warning before scampering away. The big thing had never even noticed.
Easy to catch, he thought. It never noticed me and didn’t sense my presence like the four-legged thing. Next time, it would be easy to catch. And there would be a next time. He would be waiting…and waiting…and waiting.
