Dog Tale

It was a bit warmer than most December days in Oregon but I didn’t mind, it reminded me of my hometown in Texas. It never got very cold down in Dallas, but a seventy-degree December day in Portland was not so common. I had worn my light jacket over my grey uniform button-up at work despite my co-workers' complaints of heat. Most of them had grown up in the Stumptown area and had no concept of how hot it got in the southern half of the US.

I was glad to be done with work though and fished my keys out of my pocket while I trekked up the stairs to my second-story apartment. I could hear Kirby’s excited barking upon my return from my eight-hour shift. It was only five in the evening but I was sure I’d get another email from the complex letting me know my neighbors weren’t happy with the noise.

I fumbled the lock open as quickly as I could and went down on one knee to greet my four-legged friend. Kirby leapt into my arms and immediately started licking at my face, his happy whines and warm tongue on my cheek was the best kind of ‘welcome home’ I could have asked for.

“Alright Kirby, time for some dinner, bud.” I rubbed his tiny head before directing him back into the apartment. My phone vibrated in my front pocket and I stopped in the entryway to dig out my phone from my jeans. The contact on the screen read ‘Julia’ and I answered while I hung my keys up, eager to get some food started for Kirby and myself.

The high-pitched voice on the phone rang out, “Hey, hot stuff! How was your shift? I heard Dan came in to get his computer fixed again!” Her laugh was loud in my ear.

I chuckled too despite the fact that the joke was partially at my expense, “Yeah, he tried to talk to me the whole time I was diagnosing his laptop. It was so awkward Julia, he’s like ten years older than me.”

“Oh honey, I know. That’s why it’s so funny. You just have to tell him you're taken!” She offered for the umpteenth time.

“I haven’t been taken for years and you know it.” The reminder was a wound to my pride. Kirby danced around my feet, his short tail wagging rapidly.

“Hey, a good-looking guy like you shouldn’t be single. Will you go out with us after the Christmas party tonight?” She pleaded, the whine of her voice irritated me.

“I think I’ll stay in, I’m not a fan of parties.” My words were returned with a sigh.

“Fine, but if you always keep to yourself you’ll never meet anyone new. Enjoy your boring night in.” The perkiness in Julia’s voice changed at my rejection, her words became sharp and clipped.

“Have fun, Julia.” I managed to sneak in before she hung up. I shoved my phone back in my pocket then slipped out of my jacket and tossed it on the couch, relieved the call was over.

I grabbed Kirby’s dog bowl then headed to the kitchen. Despite it being my fifth year living in the same place after graduating and moving out from the dorms at Lewis and Clark College, I didn’t have many friends. Kirby was my one and only constant, my family.

I opened the pantry door and scooped a bit of kibble from the bag of dog food using Kirby’s dish. My little pantry couldn’t fit much and was mostly dedicated to Kirby’s food and treats. I grabbed a can of all-natural chunky bites before shutting the small, closet-like door. I could have gone back home after graduating, but I didn’t want to backtrack after I worked so hard to break free from the clutches of my childhood. I was almost done paying off my student loans anyway, I’d be able to finally start my life, free from all that held me back.

Kirby barked and I laughed, “Hey there little man, I’m working on it ok?” Kirby sat and tilted his head with perked up ears as I talked to him, he knew food was only a couple of moments away from being served. I took a second to admire his wiry white fur and adorable big brown spots. My handsome little man. He placed a paw on my shoe, his little way of getting my attention.

I emptied the can into his bowl then mixed it in with his kibble. I spoiled him and he knew it, getting to eat before me, what a little prince. I brought his bowl back over to his water dish, he was but a hairsbreadth behind my heel the whole way. He sat expectantly while I lifted my hand for the awaited command. “Sit," I placed his food down and gave him a quick pet along his back. "Good boy, Kirb.”

Kirby chowed down on his food before I could even blink. My own stomach growled and I made my way back to the kitchen. I didn’t have much food around, so I grabbed a bag of microwavable popcorn and threw it in the mechanical wonder.

Graduating with an art history degree was amazing but it didn’t have a lot of real-world applications, especially for someone who needed to pay off a huge loan right out of college. So, as many others my age had done, I became a minimum wage worker for a huge corporation. I’d been counting down the years it would take to get my degree paid for. After having consistently made double payments towards my ten year loan, I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I looked up to the microwave a little impatiently and saw my reflection in the black appliance. My hair had gotten long, so much so that my dark curls were barely above my eyes, I would need to get a trim soon. Julia and my other co-workers were quick to say I was handsome, my only flaw that I hid under a mop of hair. I hadn’t cared about my appearance much since graduating, especially after my college boyfriend left me for a neat and tidy military man.

I looked away, my reflection frustrated me, then I grabbed a beer from the fridge. My Best Buy job with the Geek Squad was paying the bills and I had hopes of getting a promotion to tech repair manager. With my debt mostly gone and work not being terrible I was in a good spot, anything else was superfluous. The microwave beeped, pulling me back to the task at hand. A moment later I sat on the couch, hot popcorn in a bowl, cold IPA on a coaster, and remote in hand.

Christmas was right around the corner, so I opted for a holiday-themed movie, nothing too serious, maybe a classic? I decided on The Nightmare Before Christmas and settled into my seat. The Disney theme started up and I took a sip of my beer. Another average night in my fairly average life. The eerie violins started up and I glanced to the side, the left cushion of my couch open, the space usually occupied by Kirby. He must have been licking his bowl clean of every morsel.

The deep voice of the opening monologue began and I looked back to the screen, the story of holiday secrets pulling me in, allowing me an escape from my daily grind. The music started up in earnest and I shoved a handful of popcorn into my mouth, trying to appease my stomach. I patted my thigh out of habit and called for Kirby to hop onto my lap. The familiar sound of his collar jingling didn’t register and I turned towards his bowl. He was gone.

I sat my beer down and stood up to look around, “Kirby?” That was weird, there weren't many other places he could be. The ominous music of Halloween town put me on edge. Maybe he was waiting by the door to go out? I walked around the couch and looked towards the front door, my eyes widened. The front door was open a bit, just enough for his tiny Jack-Russel body to slip through.

“Oh shit.” I ran to the door and looked outside, hoping beyond hope that he hadn’t gone down the stairs. There was no sign of him anywhere. I began to panic, my dog, the only thing I loved, ran away. I forgot to close the door and he ran away. Not even he wanted to be around me. I grabbed my keys quickly and closed and locked my door faster than I ever had before. I ran down the concrete stairs, taking two steps at a time, and looked around the sidewalk and bushes near the front entrance.

“Kirby! Where are you? Come here, boy!” I called out desperately trying to listen for the jingling of his collar. I didn’t see or hear him anywhere so I shoved my keys in my jean pocket, turned in the direction we normally started our walks in, and I ran.

I ran and yelled out Kirby’s name over and over again, where would he have gone? I’m an idiot for not closing the door, not taking him to the bathroom right away, and not realizing he had gotten out sooner. After five years of the same routine, work, get home, dinner, walk, sleep, and I somehow screwed it up. Maybe Kirby was bored, I know I sure was.

I turned the corner at the end of the big building that was my apartment complex and saw a blur of coppery orange. Soft hands pressed against my chest and forced me to stop before colliding into whoever it was. I blinked, my eyes adjusted quickly, and I was eye to eye with a white and grey spotted cat that was perched on the one who stopped me’s shoulder. Its green eyes were wide with terror.

“Uh, wow, you seem to be in a big rush there buddy, you ok?” The warm hands pulled away from my chest and I turned to look at where the voice was coming from. Our faces were awkwardly close to one another and I stepped back to get away from both the man and the cat.

“S-sorry, I didn’t see you around the corner.” I stumbled through my sentence before glancing around for Kirby, trying to play off my almost running into the stranger.

His soft voice rang out again “It’s all good. You, looking for something?” He asked, I finally looked at him and was surprised to see a freckle-covered face with brilliant natural red hair, and big green eyes that mirrored the eyes of the cat sitting on his shoulder. He had a light flowing T-shirt on with some kind of graphic on it and grey cargo pants.

I glanced down slightly and our eyes made contact, I flinched before looking around again, “Yeah, my dog got out and I’m looking for him, he’s never done anything like this before so I’m a bit worried.” I confessed before I started to move past the guy and his feline companion.

“Oh man, that sucks. Do you need some help?” The offer threw me for a loop and I looked to my left at him, catching his eyes again. His expression was one of genuine concern.

“That would be really nice, actually.” I answered back without thinking, adrenaline pumping through me, still desperate to find Kirby.

He turned to join me, his focus now on the surrounding area. “The name’s Tucker by the way, and this is Mimi.” He offered while indicating the cat on his shoulder. “What does your dog look like?” He asked, then looked back at me, eyes bright with curiosity.

“He’s a little Jack Russell terrier, mostly white with a couple of brown spots. His name’s Kirby and mine’s Lyle. He’s the most important thing in my life.” I rambled, I just needed to find him. I saw a little smile form on Tucker’s face and there seemed to be a sense of mutual understanding as he rubbed his cats’ chin which I now noticed had a little harness and leash attached to her.

“I get it, Lyle. Let’s find Kirby,” he said with a determined look on his face. I smiled too, appreciation running through my body.

We hurried down the sidewalk and called out Kirby’s name together. Tucker stayed by my side as we looked through the bushes and in between parked cars. I pointed over to the mailbox area for Tucker to check while I ran over to a couple of Kirby’s favorite pee spots. Tucker caught up to me and shook his head worriedly.

“Are you sure he would be around here? Would he have any desire to go towards the main road?” He asked as he glanced over to the busy street then back to me, a worried crease had formed between his freckled brows.

“He doesn’t like the sound of cars. I think he’s smart enough to avoid it but…” I trailed off then looked towards the busy roadway myself, my stomach dropped, I didn’t want to believe he might have been more than just lost.

Tucker placed his hand on my shoulder which caused me to look back at him. Determination was reignited on his face, his green eyes locked onto mine as he spoke, “You’re right, he’s gotta be around here somewhere. Let’s keep looking!” His encouragement drew me back to that present moment and away from potential thoughts of dread.

I smiled, placed my hand atop his, and nodded, grateful for his strength.

We circled the apartment building not once, but twice before I noticed my body shivering. Tucker was shivering slightly too despite Mimi having cuddled up to the side of his neck. My hands were ice cold but I didn’t care.

“Hey, Tucker was it? You don’t have to keep helping me, you’ve already done so much. I know the temperature is starting to drop, you should head home.” I offered, trying to give him a way out.

“No, no, I’ve already come this far with you, there’s no turning back now.” He laughed and I saw the fog of his breath in the sidewalk lights. His lips were a little blue and his nose was pink with the chill. He looked up at me, our height difference making him tilt his head up just to make eye contact. “We’ll find him, Lyle. He probably just went out on a joy run.” His words of encouragement strung me along like the jingling sounds of the holiday bells in the air.

“Yeah…” I began to answer then, Wait… my ears had caught the sound of an actual jingling nearby. My head whipped in the direction of the sound and I hurried across the parking lot towards the little downward slope that led to the stream that ran along our apartment building. Tucker was right behind me, his breath strained with the sudden sprint.

“Lyle, did you see him?” Tucker asked, excitement in his lilting voice.

“Kirby! Kirby where aaaaare you!?” I called out desperately, the sudden sound I heard had filled my chest with hope and my eyes with tears. I saw a movement near the stream and my eyes locked onto a little form that was rutting around in some mud.

My heart leapt from my chest and I ran down the grassy hill. “Kirb!” I said excitedly before I stepped in wet muddy grass and stumbled into the icy stream beside my mud-covered dog. Kirby pulled his head from the mud and barked out playfully before jumping into my lap, mud and all. I pulled him into my grey work shirt and kissed the top of his head more times than I could count. Cold mud covered me from head to toe at that point but Kirby’s warm tongue all over my face made everything else evaporate into the cold winter night.

Relief waved over my body and I didn’t care that tears were streaming down my cheeks, I didn’t care that mud was in my shoes, all I cared about was that my dog was safe and just being a silly dog and playing in some mud.

A soft meow cut through my happy sobs and suddenly memories of the past hour flooded back to me, my brain finally catching up with my adrenalin. I turned and looked up the hill, up to the stranger who had helped me, who had done more for me than any of my friends or co-workers had ever done for me in the past five years. He helped me find the most important thing in my life. I stood up, my pants soaked in mud, and held my cold wiggly dog as I made my way back up the hill.

“The little rascal found the good stuff huh?” Tucker chuckled, relief showing on his face as well. “I’m so glad he wasn’t hurt.” He added while reaching down, offering his hand to pull me up the last, and steepest, part of the hill. I took it gratefully and found his grasp in my hand to be comforting and, despite the cold, the warmest part of my body.

“Thank you so much, Tucker, I don’t know how to repay you,” I said as we headed back across the parking lot, our hands now back to ourselves. Mine felt a little colder than before.

“Well that’s easy, you could take me out on a date.” He said with a wink and a confident smile.

I stopped at the sidewalk and looked at him in shock. I was a literal mess; clothes soaked with muddy water, face covered in glistening slobber, and a slippery, muddy dog in my arms. “Uh, I mean, are you sure?” I rambled again, this time for an entirely different reason.

Tucker patted the cleanest area on my cheek and pulled out his phone, “What’s your number big guy? I’ll text you and we can sort out the details. You need to go wash off before you catch a cold.”

I managed to speak adequately enough to sound out the numbers of my memorized contact info even though I couldn't feel my lips and my teeth had been chattering.

Tucker finished putting in my number then smiled up at me one last time before turning down the sidewalk, letting Mimi hop off his shoulder while he continued his previous walk.

“Have a good night Lyle.” He hummed as he walked away.

I watched Tucker walk away until I couldn’t see him anymore, still dumbfounded. I somehow made it up to my apartment and double-checked to close and lock the front door. There was music playing and I noticed the final credits of my long-forgotten movie rolled down the screen of my TV. Kirby whined a bit and I set him down, not thinking about the soon to be dirty carpet. I pulled out my phone then swiped my thumb across the glass to open my locked screen. A muddy streak partially obscured a new notification of a text from an unknown number. I clicked the pop-up and read the communication from Tucker.

“Are you free tomorrow for some coffee muddy man?”

My heart soared and I looked down at Kirby. He barked up at me and placed one delicate paw on my now soaked through shoe. I beamed, excitement running through my veins, then leaned down to him once more, kissing the top of his head, “You little rascal.”