Faithful Friends

Posted on August 30, 2014 Updated on August 30, 2014

My old dog pushed himself under the wire fence, sure in his actions. A million times before, he has followed this path. His eyes are dimming and I am sure he hears very little. You can walk up behind him and he doesn’t know you are there. But there is no escaping his exuberance. I look and the geriatric cat is following as well. My pets they are amazing. Aged but enthusiastic. In fact I am amazed Max doesn’t blow away in the breeze, a shadow of his former regal tabby self. So many of his 9 lives, he has used up. We cut a path up through the trees an incline of 45degrees, but not deterred Max trots along meowing, talking if you will, the old dog gallops like a puppy let off the leash for the first time. He travels four times as far as Max and I, zig zagging the familiar path. We reach the brow of the hill and a family of deer are grazing in the paddock next door. They watch us for a moment, then with a flash they scamper off leaping the wire fence. I am sad that they don’t stay around. We meander along the fence for a time, the cat faithfully by my side, Toby well he comes and goes, but we are never far away from him. The night is starting to draw in but we are not concerned, a motley crew an old lady, her old dog and even older cat. My companions for 16 years. I miss them, having moved from the family home, my visits are few and we must make the most of them. We come across a stump and I plonk myself down and soak up the sounds of the encroaching night. Frogs are starting to sing their songs and I think I can hear a cricket, but I may be wrong. I don’t care, I sit, i breathe and soak up the solitude, just me and my faithful never judging friends. I notice Max is taking great interest and pleasure in something on the ground. It is an egg. I look up, it must have fallen from the tree canopy above. I hear his greedy slurping as he sucks out the nectar from inside. Toby wanders and waits for us. I watch the sun set, the colours of the sky a joy of orange and yellow. It darkens as does my mood, I know it us time to head back. My moment of peace is coming to an end. I use the light of my phone to pave the way, there are gnarled tree roots, fallen branches and burrows to avoid. Max leads the way as he is sure of foot and obviously sees better than this old lady and her trusty dog. The lights from the house shine as we get closer. With their growing intensity my despair grows, my bubble of joy deflates. We are at the house, I hear the shower running as I head to the kitchen, my old friends are ravenous, you would think they had not seen food in days. I bend and place their bowls on the floor, as I stand back up I know I am no longer alone in the room.

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