I WANT TO HAVE THE HEART OF A DOG

I WANT TO HAVE THE HEART OF A DOG

by Genie Gabriel (www.GenieGabriel.com)

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SOME OF THE BEST DOGS COME FROM THE SHELTER

In honor of Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month during October, I am sharing a few of my shelter dog stories.

Excerpts from I Want to Have the Heart of a Dog

by Genie Gabriel (www.GenieGabriel.com)

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(Digital or print)

ACE

Ace was my first shelter dog. A Border Collie mix with golden eyes that mesmerized me, and I knew instantly he was smarter than most people. He convinced me some of the best dogs come from the shelter. I got that lesson instantly–most dogs are in shelters or on the streets because of human actions, not their own. The so-called issues that landed my adopted dogs in the shelter have not been problems for me.

For instance, one of the conditions of adopting Ace was he be neutered within seventy-two hours or we would forfeit the extra deposit we made when we adopted him. Seems he had a price on his head at the dog control office because he had run away several times from his previous owners. We didn’t have any problems with him running. In fact, one day he broke the glass in our old, single-paned front door when the mailman came. The neighbors called me at work and I hurried home. Ace was laying on the front porch and greeted me with a grin and the question, “When’s dinner?”

SOPHIE

The first time I saw her, she was laying in deathly stillness in one of the stray kennels. A big, black dog and I was in love again…Though I didn’t know it at the time…she was mourning as well as having a massive bladder-and-more infection. When I heard her story and learned she was considered unadoptable because she was twelve years old and incontinent, I stated, “Well, I’ll adopt her.” …Staff cautioned me this would probably be for hospice…The first evening, she proudly TROTTED down the sidewalk. This “hospice” dog and I had three years together.

RASCAL

[Rascal] had three paws in the euthanasia room when I asked the kennel manager to give me a few days with him…Though he got along well with my other dogs, he was terrified of most everything, and it was obvious he had been abused…My beautiful Stewart was Rascal’s therapist. Whenever Raz panicked and started biting at everything, Stewart stood over him and put him in a gentle headlock until Raz realized he was safe and no one was hurting him. When Raz calmed down, Stewart released him…[Rascal] has been with me and my herd for many years now, and he still sleeps on my pillow.

Until I Met You

Cliffhanger from Until I Met You.

            Jessica starred transfixed as she stared at the photograph. Although she didn’t need to, Jessica glanced at the caption below, shaking her head in disbelief, “J.T. and me on the Fourth of July.” From the appearance of the picture, Tyler knew Grant for years. Propping her elbows on the desk, Jessica held her head in her hands. The man she’d grown to love was the man she’d been looking for.  She had thought she could trust him, and all this time he’d been lying to her. Why did he lie? What did he plan to gain by pretending to be someone else? Tyler was just like all the other men in her life.

            A small sob sounded in her throat. Jessie thought he was the one man she could trust. She should have known better. The men in her life were never trustworthy. Some things never change.

            She’d heard him say goodnight to Wyatt and close his bedroom door.

            “Tyler.” Her voice sounded more like a plea than merely calling his name.

            When he walked into the office her eyes widened beseeching him. “Thanks, J. T.”

            He glanced at the laptop and nodded. “Yes, that’s me.” His voice sounded heavy with regret. No he sounded relieved.

            Tyler or J. T. or whoever he was stopped two feet from her side. Standing Jessica faced him.

            “Jessica?” He reached a hand out to her. When she ignored his gesture he lowered his hand.

            “Please let me explain.” Again he extended his hand to her.

            She tried not to hear the anguish in Tyler’s voice. “Why?”

            “Let’s sit down.” He placed his hand on her elbow.

            Not wanting to feel the warmth of his touch or his kindness, Jessica jerked her arm away from him. “Don’t touch me.”

            He gave her a cut nod then followed her to the living room. She sat on the couch, her back stiff and straight. Jessica guarded her emotions. Tyler sat beside her, turning to face her.

            “My life turned around when Grant’s family took me in as a foster child. For the first time, I found a family who loved me. I was a little guy who was always picked on and Grant watched over me.”

            “I know, but that doesn’t explain why you lied to me.” Jessica worked her hands in her lap.

            “I didn’t find out Grant died until after I’d completed my special ops. I received an email from his little sister, another child the Markham’s took in. She explained what happened and that you were taking care of Wyatt. I promised Grant I’d watch other Wyatt if anything happened to him. When I make a promise, I keep it no matter what. When I returned home, I needed to find out who was caring for his child.

            “In the service, I learned to know your opponent before you strategize. Once I got to know you I saw how good you were with Wyatt. It was evident he loves you. I fell in love with you too.”

            Jessica flinched when he referred to her as his opposition. “So you got to know me yet you still didn’t have the decency to tell me who you are. You let me believe you were Tyler Brown.” She swallowed quickly before the emotions tightened her throat. “We made love and you still didn’t bother to explain.”

            “I tried to tell you several times. My name is Justin Tyler Reynolds. I was named after my wonderful father.” Heaving a sigh, Tyler leaned forward and rested his arms on his legs. “He’d come home drunk and beat up my mom. One night he beat her so bad she died before she got to the hospital. I was twelve at the time and swore I’d never used his name again. From then on I went by J. T.”

            His voice was unusually monotone and devoid of all feeling. This wasn’t the fun loving man she knew. Jessica wanted to reach out and comfort him, but the thought of his deceit stopped her. 

www.rosemaryindra.com

Inspiration or noise?

When I first started writing, I listened to various music artists depending on my story and my mood. At that time my stories needed coaxing to come out and allow me to put them on the computer.

Now, I can't get my characters to leave me alone. Music is just a background distraction. I have plenty of those without adding another.

What is your take on the issue? Do you music or not?

Sable Angel