The Chase

Thump, thump, thump. Thump, thump, thump. My feet and heart hammered in tandem as I raced up the sidewalk. How did it come to this, I wondered? Amused and out of breath, I stopped for a minute, peering into neighbors' yards. Pondering the past, I thought back to when we'd first rescued the currently missing pup. A little scraggly scruff of brown fur, adorable and energetic had peered up at me out of the cardboard box. We'd been begging for a pet and the universe had forced our softhearted father to agree when she'd been abandoned on the doorstep of his woodshop.

I shook my head wryly- we'd definitely trained this into her. We'd fenced her inside the little mattress barrier at first to stop her from nipping at our heels as we ran about the yard. When she made a quick and mysterious escape, the real game began. We'd build a bigger and better fortress for her, then run about and call to her. Cocoa! Cocoa! When she inevitably escaped to join us, we'd shower her in kisses and treats. It hadn't taken long for her to discover she could escape the yard as well.

One day we came back and there she was, waiting in the front yard. She must've been looking for us. When we got out of the car, though, it was off to the races. Fast as lightening, slippery as a fish, she sprinted right by our legs, through our outstretched hands. Grin wide and tongue lolling, she looked back at us as if to say, 'catch me if you can'.

"Cocoa!" The call came from about a block away. Aha, someone's found her! Picking up my pace, I took up the race again. A few minutes later I rounded the corner, there she was, sprinting right for me, dopey grin on her face. I kneeled down.

"Come here, Cocoa!" I panted. As she neared, she slowed slightly, and I reached out my hands. With a powerful spring of her legs, she jumped through my hands, silky brown fur sliding under my fingers. I leapt back to my feet as my brother and a neighbor boy ran into view. She was heading back towards the house.

"Wait," I said, "I'll double back, sit here for a minute." My brother nodded; he knew the game as well as I. If we sat on the sidewalk instead of chasing, she'd just watch us for a bit two or three yards down. If we got too close in a yard, she'd leap a neighbor's fence and be a block away in an instant. This mix of chase and hide and go seek was what she lived for, and she'd trained us to play it her way as surely as we'd encouraged her discoveries of escape. Time for a bit of strategy.

"If I make it home first, maybe I can lure her back inside with some dog treats." I explained.

"We can chase her right back to you." My brother nodded. Him and his friend sat down, waiting. Feet slapping barefoot against the pavement, off I went, around the corner and down the street. I felt like laughing into the wind. By the time I started back up the hill at the bottom of my street, I felt a little less like laughing, I was panting so hard. Flinging myself back in through the front door of my house, I went straight for the roundabout cabinet, spinning it until I saw the tell-tale blur of the treat box. Snatching the wheel to a halt, I turned it back a smidge to give myself enough room to pull out the treats. In a flash I was back in the front yard, and none too soon. There she was, sprinting towards me, muscular chest rippling, tongue streaming from her mouth and flopping in the air. I shook the treats and opened the bag.

"Come here Cocoa! Good girl!" I yelled with excitement as she ran right to me and sat, expectant. I gave her a treat and then held up another and ran towards the open door of the house. "Race ya!" I took off running and she flashed right by me, into the house. With the door firmly closed, I sat on the floor and gave her treats, laughing as she gave me kisses. There was always fun in the freedom of the chase.