BarkingProse

I hate to rain on Asher’s parade, but the addition of Journey to our pack is quite unfortunate.

It’s true she’s cute as a bug and looks so much like Asher that all I see is two blue blurs racing around after each other.

But for heaven’s sake. I spent my first two years at Asherpark avoiding Tess, who could not abide my insistence on growling at her.

Even though she terrorized me whenever possible, I had a fondness for the red girl and miss her petulant ways.

After Tess died, life was so peaceful at Asherpark. I could come and go as I wished, never having to look over my shoulder or wonder if Tess was going to launch.

Then the mindless puppy showed up. I know mom hoped I would welcome Journey and perhaps even play with her.

Two years ago I think that would have been the case. I played wildly with a puppy in my foster home, but that was then and this is now.

I’m older, sick with an anal gland tumor, missing my Mama, and contemplating the end of my life.

To make my dislike known, I bit Journey on her second day at Asherpark. Such a pitiful wailing from the little pup, you would have think I killed her.

It’s true, I did draw blood, but puppies are resilient and she healed quickly.

That nip resulted in the only real scolding I ever received at Asherpark. Mom pointed her finger at me, looked me in the eye, and read me the rules. I was to leave the puppy alone, and mom would make sure separation was maintained.

That was the best possible outcome. I didn’t want the mouthy little thing anywhere near me.

So once again we are living separate lives at Asherpark. Journey and I take turns being free in the house, with Journey limited to short periods. I get the lion’s share of house time, a benefit of my age and fragile condition.

Mom says it’s not so bad right now because Journey can’t run free in the house anyway. Journey spends a goodly amount of time tethered, which helps with her training.

I pretend I have no interest in Journey, but at night when she is crated I slip onto the bed next to her and watch her sleep. She is an incredibly beautiful little pup.

If the truth be known, I am glad there is a new life at Asherpark. Things were so sad as one dog after another died of illness or old age. We lost three dogs in nine months, including my own mother.

Perhaps I will live long enough to see Journey mature. It would be nice to see her blossom into her adult self. I wish her a long and healthy life. I know she has already brought much happiness to Asher.

Good luck, Journey. I mean you no harm.

For weeks we’ve been waiting for my puppy to get old enough to leave her home and come to Asherpark.

She was born at Chandrea Farms in eastern Washington, same place I was born. Her father is my stepbrother, so I guess that makes me her half uncle.

When the day finally came to get Journey I begged mom to go with her, but mom said I had to stay home with Shiloh. Something about it being too long a drive and too crazy for the puppy if I was in the car messing with her.

Mom took off by herself to go fetch my puppy. She told me it would be late the next day before she returned, and I should concentrate on finding my old toys for the puppy to play with.

The hours dragged by. I kept looking at the clock. Why couldn’t I hear the car coming up the gravel road. Where were they??!!

And then I heard them. The distinctive sound of mom’s old car turning down our driveway.

I held my breath and said a quick prayer to Tess. I thanked Tess for all the good times we had together and asked her to help me raise my puppy to be brave like her.

When I saw Journey I let out a roar of a bark that terrified her. She ran back into her crate and huddled in the corner.

I felt so bad, I got down on my belly and crawled into her little space. I licked her all over and told her how happy I was that she had come to Asherpark.

I promised Journey I would take good care of her and teach her everything she needed to know. I whispered that I had been waiting for her forever and we were going to be soulmates.

It didn’t take Journey long to forget my big bark. She wiggled out of her crate and jumped on my head. I lay down so she could sniff me all over.

Then Journey ran to the pile of toys I set out for her and grabbed my most favorite tug toy I had when I was a puppy. She wrapped herself up like a princess and gave me a big smile.

I guess you could say it was love at first sight. After all these years, I had my own puppy. The thought of days ahead with Journey at my side brought tears to my eyes. Then she jumped on my head, grabbed a mouthful of fur, and the games began. It’s gonna be a good life, Journey, I promise.

 

 

 

I was so excited when mom told me my puppy is a blue merle female. That means she looks like me and everyone will know she is MY puppy.

“What are we going to name her?” I practically shouted in excitement.

For a few moments mom didn’t answer. She stared at me like she didn’t hear my question or she didn’t know the answer.

Then mom knelt down. She looked straight into my eyes and said, “We are going to name the puppy Journey.”

“After I told you we found your puppy, I had a dream,” mom said. “In the dream a voice insisted we name the puppy ‘Journey’ so whenever we speak her name we’ll be reminded we’re on a life journey together.”

“Wow, how fun is that!” I blurted. Then the questions tumbled out of me, a mixture of longing, confusion and delight.

“Will she be anything like Tess?” I asked. “Do you think Tess is coming back to us as Journey? I mean Tess died before Journey was born. Could Tess have made a deal with Journey to come back in Journey’s fur?”

Mom laughed so hard she fell on her butt. That was my signal to pounce on her and lick her face. Pretty soon we were rolling around on the rug playing the lick and tickle game. I slathered mom’s mouth with so much spit she finally called me off  but not before I got in one last slurp.

It was good to laugh again and think about the future. The pain of the past will always be with us but with little Journey in our pack, we won’t have much time to feel sorry about things.

I wish I could have seen Journey when she was born, but I don’t think her mama would have let me very close. I may be prejudiced ’cause she’s my puppy, but I think she’s the cutest little bug of a mutt I ever saw.