Write On!

              " Oh no," I thought. " I'm not here for a dog."
" Right, you're here for a companion and I'm it."
" Howdy!" came a voice from the hall, " Picking out a dog to adopt?"
" I hadnt thought of it," i replied.
" But now you've decided on this one." The voice was quite precise.
" Right nice dog, that one," said the attendant, " Here, I'll let you in to
get better acquainted."
I was about to say, " Don't bother" when my mind was flooded with the
overwhelming desire to take the dog and keep it. A strange mixture of
command and pleading.
By this time, the attendant had unlocked the cage, released the dog,
leashed him and handed me the lead.
" Just sign him out at the desk. Put him on Master Card." With that
comment he locked 4B and left me out in the hall with the dog.
" Now what?" I groaned.
" Head out to the desk and get the paper work done," I heard
someone say, and I was walking, dog beside, up to the desk.
That will be sixty dollars... Got his shots" monotoned the clerk from
behind the desk, " but will need fixing."
" Not on your life!" came a heated response.
The clerk shoved the paperwork at me, asked for cheque, card or
cash, and there I was, handing over my Master Card, signing my name,
adopting the dog and fumbling in my purse for the car keys.
" Look in your pocket, Margaret."
" All right," I exploded. " You've talked me into this dog, in spite of my
better judgment, and now the least you can do is show yourself."
" Lady," said the desk clerk, " If you don't want no dog, no one is
making you take one, and it ain't me talkin' you into it, and there ain't anyone
else here but me and the guy with the keys!"
She was getting agitated and my head filled with... not laughter so
much but a gentle humour and the voice said, " It's okay, I'll explain later. You
and me, we are going to have great adventures, and we will each look out for
the other. Just because you can't hear me doesn't make you deaf."
The dog was pulling at the leash and I was being hurried outside.
Getting into the car, I heard him say, " Perfect! This is the beginning of
a great adventure."
Now I knew there was only me and this - this dog. " What? How?" the
questions formulated in my mind.
" Genetics!" came the response. " Mind t a l k - heart to heart really, for
not everyone can hear me, and it's not everyone that I want to hear me, but
you, I trust, so let's get going."
He laid his great head on my shoulder. I turned the key, started the
car, glanced over my shoulder and we drove away.
I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into, but his gentle laughter
filled my mind, and an assurance of companionship and adventure flooded