Moving in slow motion

She picked up the dog and looked directly into its eyes. The car that hit it never stopped, and now this creature was injured. Julia cradled the pup and carried him home. Cleaning him up, Julia found the small tattoo on his belly indicating he’d been sheltered. “Who would abandon him again?” she thought.

She put salve and a bandage on him. “I think you look like a teddy bear. I’m going to name you Teddy.” Teddy seemed to understand the name and looked back up at, slowly falling asleep in her arms. Julia set him down inside a box with an old blanket and an old dog toy.

The night passed, and the morning brought new light into the house. Julia checked the box and found Teddy missing. The sides of the box were tall; there’s no way he could jump out. She walked through the house, checking underneath every piece of furniture and in every room. No doors were open, and the house remained silent.

Figuring the dog had departed, Julia put the kettle on for her morning tea. As the kettle started to whistle, the dog came bouncing into the kitchen, full of fire and ready to play. She took the kettle off the stove and poured the water into her cup with the teabag. She sat down and called the dog over to her.

“Teddy, where have you been?” She scratched the dog’s head and ears, and Teddy responded by turning in circles. “You want some brekkies? I still have some kibble in the pantry.” Opening the pantry, a bag of kibble was there, folded over and clipped tight. “This usually does it.” She brought a plastic bowl out of a cabinet and poured some kibble into it, placing it on the floor. The dog was starving. “Slow down, there, fella. It’s not going anywhere.”

The dog finished eating and looked up at Julia. “I suppose you need to go out now.” She opened the back door, and Teddy trotted outside to do his business. The yard was fenced in, and there was ample space to roam. Julia walked outside and watched the brown dog. He seemed better this morning compared to the night before.

Back inside, Julia finished her tea and turned on the weather station. There was another storm coming in with plenty of rain. Teddy had curled up on the rug near the fire. He seemed oblivious to anything around him. Julia reached over and picked him up. “You,” she said, “are quite a handsome fella, aren’t you?” The dog wagged his tail. “I wonder if you will finally make it home?”

She set him down on the ground and opened the front door. Teddy quickly ran out and disappeared down the road. Julia walked around to inspect the front of her car, wiped the blood off the fender, and walked back into her house. She poured the remaining vodka into the sink. Teddy would live to see another day.