Harmony
I don’t remember my birth. I don’t remember my family. I do remember my first home.
I remember when he use to get home. How I would hide, knowing what would happen next. All I wanted to do was protect. But I couldn’t even protect myself.
I left that place. A family took me in. I was surrounded by friends. The lady and the boy took care of me. I played in the field for hours. My favorite part was at night. I would cuddle up next to the children and stay close to them. I will protect. I will keep them safe.
One day someone new came. I must protect. They brought me close to him. He smelled of smoke. I must protect! I bare my teeth. I go for his leg, but I don’t bite. The other he must have sent him. I won’t go back. I won’t leave again. I have to protect here. I have to stay here.
He comes down to my level. How dare he! I bark louder. I pull harder. I must protect. I must hold fast. He reaches out. I snap my jaw closed right next to his fingers. Go away. You’re not welcome. I must protect. I must protect.
He stands up, the boy carries me away again. The boy has my favorite toy. It’s time to play! It’s time to play! He lifts it past my reach. I jump! He brings it close. I grab on. Pull! Pull with me!
The boy hands it to him. I let go and bark. Not him! I protect! I bark harder and louder. I cough. I protect. I keep barking. He comes back down. Reaches out. I snap by his hand again. He will go. I will stay. I will protect.
He sits…..I bark.
He stays…..I bark louder.
He offers me a treat….I can’t. I have to protect.
He holds out his hand...I bark….but maybe I’ll lick right before.
He stands. I hold still. They put the rope on me and hand it to him. He walks slowly. I bark, snapping at his knees, but follow. We walk around the wall with holes through the metal ropes.
He opens the door. I jump in. He closes the door.
He gets in next to me. Looks at me. “Hello Sadie. Ready to go home?”
I wake up. He puts the rope on me. He opens the door. I jump in. I sit as everything vibrates and bumps. I look up. Scared. He hold my face for a moment and looks in my eyes. “Let go to the park.”
We get to the end of the trail. I protect, but friends are here. They are jumping into the cold. I don’t like it. I don’t want to get too close. He goes near the edge. I protect. I get close and stand next to him. He grabs me and throws.
Everything goes cold. I flail my legs. I pull myself through the cold back towards him. I make it back to the floor. How dare he! I protect and he throws me? I run to higher ground. I will wait until he comes away from the cold. He does. I run down. He gets close again. I run up and bark. He walks away. I follow.
We come back. It’s not as cold this time. I stand next to him. He reaches down. I’m ready. He throws. I come back. He throws. I come back. He throws a stick…..I freeze. He smiles.
We come back again. He throws a stick. My friends race for it. I jump in. I reach it first. I come back. He smiles. Cold is falling from his eyes. He holds my head and looks into mine. “Good dog Harmony. Good dog.”
He turns off the light coming from the wall. Time to lay down. I run in after him. He falls down to the ground. I come up next to him and look into his eyes. He smiles. “Good dog Harmony. I love you.”
My family. My friend. My home. I will protect.
I lay down.