Encore
Someone is calling him.
He has not been called for a long time. He has been resting, and it is a good rest. Maybe he should keep resting.
He’s had ever so many walks and food things and rolling in smells and scritches and barking at cats and cows and geese. He drove lots of badgers out of holes. He made the best of friends.
No, this is the time for rest. He is content.
Only…now there is a smell!
There had not been smells, but now there is a smell, and it is a very, very good smell.
Not pig dung.
Not meat things that are toasty and juicy.
No, it is the best smell!
His friend.
His very best, most excellent napping and walking and sharing food friend!
If there is anything worth not resting for, it is seeing his friend. And if it is his friend calling him, well, he must go to him.
“Did you see that? His tail moved…”
He tries to wag his tail harder, for that voice was his other friend, who chases and scolds and scritches just right behind the ears! But his tail is not quite wagging right.
“Are you sure? What if it doesn’t work, or he isn’t himself…”
“It’s going to work, Elmwood. Here, hold my hand, and put the other one on him.”
He feels a hand press against him. He wishes it would scritch him. He wishes he could lick it!
“Rollo, please wake up. I promise you can chew all my best boots to bits and sniff as much as you want when we’re out for walks and sleep in my armpit every night until my arm goes numb if you’ll only just come back to us. Please.”
“Oh, darling. Don’t cry, he’s going to be as good as new, I’m sure of it.”
“How can you be certain? He isn’t moving.”
“Keep talking to him. Let him hear your voice.”
“Rollo, friend. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t keep you safe. But if you come back to me, I’ll do better. I swear I’ll do better. Just give me another chance. One more chance.”
He concentrates with all his might. His friends need a proper greeting, and they will have it!
“Look, there goes his tail again!”
Then his eyes open, and they are both hovering right above him, so delectably, delightfully close that he could kiss them right on their faces! But who to kiss first?
“Good boy, Rollo!” cries his chasing, scolding, scratching friend, showing him her happy teeth. “Very good boy!” He decides he must kiss her first, to share in her happy!
But oh! His very best napping, walking, food friend is sad. He is leaking water from his eyes! He needs kisses most of all.
“I missed you so much,” his friend says to him.
He springs up into his arms and licks the tears away.