From Wags to Riches Chapter 5

The sun was already low in the western sky when Kay and Hushpuppy returned home from their excursion into town. Kay was tired but in good spirits as she walked the final few hundred feet from the roadway to the front door of her house. Hushpuppy exhausted by the day’s activities had slept quietly in Kay’s sweatshirt pouch since shortly after they had left the City Hall.

Kay paused briefly as she climbed the last three steps before reaching the front porch door. Looking back over her shoulder she was mesmerized by the pale yellow light of the moon. It seemed larger and closer than usual. Standing there on the steps to her house Kay felt as if she stood on her tiptoes she could reach out and touch it. It seemed to grow brighter and fuller in the gathering dusk as the sun slowly slid below the western horizon.

Kay sighed a deep sensual sigh at this romantic sight. Feeling the need to share this wonder with someone special she unzipped her jacket and gently pulled the sleeping Hushpuppy out of his cloth womb and into her arms. Hushpuppy shook slightly from the cool early evening air as Kay drew her jacket around him leaving only his head and ears exposed.

Looking up into the evening sky Hushpuppy did as all hounds will …he bayed at the moon.

“hooowwwwl …..owwwwwl…ooowl”

Kay laughing at Hushpuppy’s first feeble attempts joined in the chorus howling with him.

“Hoooowwwwl” cried Kay in a trembling soprano tone.

“Hoooowl” responded Hushpuppy.

Together they howled watching in wonder as the moon slowly rose higher in the evening sky.

Kay had never felt so close a kinship with an animal before. As she stood there holding Hushpuppy close against her body howling in answer to his howl and then with him in unison she came to appreciate this ancient ritual which Hushpuppy had inherited from his long forgotten wolf ancestors.

Kay’s voice started to become a bit hoarse and her throat felt dry. This howling was really hard work …but somebody had to do it. 

Turning towards the house she climbed the final three steps and opened the door. Hushpuppy lie silently in her arms as Kay closed the door behind them. They both knew that something special had just happened. For a brief instant woman and beast had joined in song and there would forever after be a special bond between them for they had bared their souls to one another with those mournful sounding cries.

“Well Kiddo …Are you hungry ? …I know I am” said Kay as she reached into the small shopping bag she had carried from town.

“What will it be …Kibbles and Bits or Purina puppy chow ?”…”hmmm !” … “ I think Kibbles ..OK ?”

Hushpuppy’s wagging tail was all the affirmation Kay needed as she poured the dog food into a cereal bowl and moistened it with some milk. Next came a fresh bowl of cool, clean water …and for desert … a Milk Bone. Hushpuppy gobbled his food all the time keeping one eye on Kay as she moved around the kitchen singing as she made her own supper a tomato sandwich and a glass of milk.

Life was good !

Kay loved the old farmhouse with its rustic hand hewn ceiling beams, its hard wood floors and its large stone fireplace in the parlor. On cool evenings such as this Kay often sat on a large bearskin rug in front of the fireplace. Many nights she had sat on that rug with her husband or children staring into the flames watching tiny sparks fly upward through the chimney. 

Sometimes when she was alone she would curl up on that rug with a glass of wine and a good book savoring the warmth from the hearth. Tonight she would share this special place with Hushpuppy.

At first Hushpuppy was frightened by the firelight. Huddling against Kay’s side he whimpered softly. Gradually his fear subsided somewhat and he began to bark at the dancing flames.

Moving closer to the fire Hushpuppy made what for a larger dog would have passed for a menacing growl. Unfortunately Hushpuppy was still quite tiny and so it sounded more like a mouse with asthma.

Suddenly the burning wood in the fireplace made a loud crackling sound sending tiny sparks upwards towards the chimney.

Hushpuppy let out a startled yelp and headed for cover huddling close against Kay’s body.

Kay gently stroked Hushpuppy’s back and gently kissed the top of his tiny head. Soon Hushpuppy stopped trembling.

“That’s OK Hush! “ she said softly. “Tonight I will protect you…but someday soon I know you will be watching over me.” “Lie here beside me and share the warmth … I won’t let anything harm you.”

Hushpuppy yawned.

The light from the flickering flames reflected as a dancing glow in Hushpuppy’s small, dark eyes. His tiny tail thumped gently against Kay’s side as he huddled close beside her.

Life was good!

Kay lay on the rug gently stroking Hushpuppy’s back as she watched the fire slowly recede into a small heap of glowing embers. Gently she scooped up the sleeping puppy placing him in his shoebox and covering him with his white terry cloth towel before carrying him into the bedroom and setting the box on the pillow next to hers.

Silently slipping out of her clothes Kay slid between the sheets soon falling into a deep, peaceful sleep.