WHERE DID THAT DOG BONE COME FROM?

Tia took her dog walking today and received the shock of a life time. Marilyn, the 6 year old canine, was taking her daily squat when Tia noticed the heathen animal across the street running wild. The parents of the dog were near but didn’t seem to understand, nor care, that allowing a dog to run free was not wise and certainly illegal. Although Tia did not have a collar on her furry companion, she always maintained mental control over her dog and running off was not something Marilyn would do—until today.

Within 30 seconds the jet black Labrador had crossed the street and stood nose to nose with Marilyn, encouraging her to disobey her mommy by running around and terrorizing the neighborhood. Marilyn resisted for a moment but the lab must have threatened her within inches of her life, because she took off running like she was getting away from Ted Manson.

Tia yelled and yelled for her to return, but the two dogs ran in and out of sight. Each time they appeared, Marilyn was being chased and the lab’s nose was buried in her tail. Marilyn would stop for a while and the 7 month pup appeared to be boxing with the older dog. Marilyn, an English Sheppard looking mutt tried sparing with the crazy dog, but she was no match. They soon disappeared for about 30 minutes and Tia became frantic and started worrying her head off. The parents of the crazy dog could not have cared less that they were the reason Tia was experiencing a rise in her blood pressure. Tia knew that bailing Marilyn out of doggie jail might be an option if she was not found soon.

Tia walked to the apartment complex next door where there were always locals looking for next day work. Only one or two spoke English but they all seemed to know what Tia was searching for. One man pointed to the back of the complex with his right hand while holding his eye with the left. Someone else said, “Dogs over there, but be careful.” “Be careful of what?,” Tia responded. “One man is injured and the dogs ran in the woods toward the garbage cans,” a second gentleman said. The other men looked in terror and bewilderment but Tia could not figure out where the fear had come from.

That is when a child named Eduardo came running out of the apartment building and said he had seen the whole thing. He said, when the two dogs came to their community they both stood up on their hind legs and began to walk like men. The younger dog reached inside his right leg, pulled out a knife, walked over to the man with the injured eye, and barked, "give me all your money or you would not see again." The worker reached in his pocket and gave him his last $5,the younger dog tucked it away in his front chest as if he had a shirt pocket. Next thing the man knew, he was punched in the eye by the lab. The two animals ran away to the back of the complex, still on two legs. They disappeared through waist high weeds and were last seen going into the corner store.

Tia figured these people were crazier than the wild pup and his owners but she went over to the store to find her dog anyway. When she got to the store there was no Marilyn and no wild lab. But the cashier was muttering something about having sold a couple of dog biscuits to two thuggish dogs. Now Tia didn’t believe the story; but if she did, she was sure on one would call her dog a thug. She thought to herself, “Marilyn comes from a good home!”

Frustrated, disgusted, and certainly upset, Tia gave up the search and headed for home. On her way home a Jefferson County Pound truck passed her and Tia’s stomach dropped. She stretched her eyes wide as she tried to peer inside the metal truck. She was trying to see if Marilyn had been picked up and was headed to jail. Tia couldn’t see anything.

By now the 100 degree weather, along with all the excitement had beat Tia down and she began to wonder if there was any truth to the day workers’ story. She just resolved that whatever happened, happened and maybe giving Marilyn some tough love and letting her stay in doggie jail a day or two would teach her a lesson. After all she had run off with a criminal typed doggie.

Upon turning the corner of the apartment complex where she lived in, she saw a delightful sight. Up the top of the stairs, at the front door was none other than the girl’s best friend, Marilyn. Tia was glad to see her and Marilyn was glad to see Tia. As Marilyn stood on all four legs, wagging her tail and jumping up and down, she was eager for Tia to unlock the door. Tia wanted to yell at her but she was too glad the ordeal was over. She just opened the door and let the dog in. Marilyn started walking in and then she stopped, turned around, and went back out by the flower pot which stood at the front door. She sniffed to the back of the pot and pulled out a huge dog bone between her teeth. She turned back around, walked across the threshold, and passed Tia into the apartment. Tia looked on in amazement as Marilyn took the bone and tucked it inside the corner of the loveseat, as if she were saving it for a rainy day. Then she went to her favorite corner, laid down, and crossed one paw over the other as she gently rested her head on top of the two paws. Tia could not help but realize that the look in Marilyn’s eyes was definitely one that she’d never seen before.
-Louise

***Where Did that Bone Come From is a fictional story, inspired after watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes***