Dogs Are Smarter Than You May Realize

He went outside. It was a cold evening. Pulling  his worn coat around  him and tugging  his hat over  his ears, he carried the aluminium  pail in one hand, holding the lantern in the other hand.

Musical notes were heard through  the crisp air, as the dogs saw him heading their way. The warmth  of his heart raised as he knew the animals needed  him as much as he needed them.

He reached  the  door of the faded, red barn and it squeaked  as he pushed it open. Tails began to wag and they made their way to where he stood.

“How are my boys doing tonight? Did you  think I forgot you?” Tails wagged faster  as their master spoke in soft tones .  He poured the dog food mixed with the scraps  from the day. He stood back and watched  as they gobbled up their supper.

After they were done, he took the empty bowls and walked over to the pump to give them water for the  night.  It was hard to pump the handle because  it was so cold. He tried two more times  and then grabbing his arm, he fell to the ground.

The dogs came closer .  Silence filled the barn except for the running water. A couple of the dogs began lickqing his face. Maggie Mae lay down beside him.

Nothing happened, no matter how loud the barking , nor how many kisses; they couldn’t  arouse the one human they loved. One of the older dogs had been standing in the background  as if surveying  the situation .

Mary Lou let out a bark that made the other dogs stop what they were doing and all heads turned  in attention. One of the younger, stout dogs walked towards Mary Lou and a signal was shared, and the two took off running  out the open door.

The other dogs cuddled near  their master, using their fur for a blanket. In less than an hour, a man, his wife and two children  came running in.

The dogs moved away, allowing  the neighbors to take  in the situation .  In less than ten minutes  the sirens arrived and the dogs watched  as the man was carried away on a stretcher.

The wife looked at the  dogs and said, “he’s  going to be okay. You  saved his life by coming to  get us. We will be back each evening  with your  supper until Bill is back on his feet.” The dogs seemed to understand  as they licked the hands of the neighbors . The water was shut off.  The door  was shut, and the dogs went back to  their straw bed and rested with one eye open and ears erected .

Written  by , 
Terry  Shepherd 
December  2015

A Saturday Morning

Every  morning  is a new day. I  wake up determined  to  see the good in the day. I  pray God gives me his thoughts  for guidance  and not my own.

This morning, I  went outside  into the crisp ,  cold air. I  could see my breath. I see the peeping  of the sun rising between the trees. I smoke my cigarette ,  hoping for the best, and expectations  of zero.

It was still quiet as I prepared  my breakfast .  Two eggs, an English  muffin with a hint  of jelly. A few cherry tomatoes  and coffee. I listened to  the  morning news. I don’t  know why I  watch it. It is  nothing but  bad stuff and the sports.

The middle child woke up. He had slept  downstairs .  I   heard paper rattling, so I  peeked out my door, wondering  if maybe Santa was taking stock of the kids rooms.

The grandson said, “look at this.”  I looked and his doorway was completely  covered with Christmas  wrapping  paper. Right in the middle of  the  paper was, Buddy the Elf. It looked like he had been  trying  to get in the room and got stuck. His head was inside the paper and his bottom was sticking out on our side. We both laughed as he tore at the paper giving him clearance  to enter  his room.

I  have finished  esting, cleaned up my preparation  work and am now ready to watch the rest of the news and wait to see what happens throughout  this day.