Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Brothers Three

For nearly five years, they were three. The first, a stray, was clearly the one in charge. Mostly due to his commanding personality, of course, but it also helped that he still had his testicles. The second, the largest (yet most gentle), was a simple and loyal soul. The only one of pure blood, he never seemed to rub it in, deferring all shows of force to the first. The third, a rescue, was extremely stubborn and extremely smart. An escape artist and a bad influence, the group's cheerleader. He put the hound in Houdini... never mind the "n" out of place.

Each were well traveled. All having originated in North Carolina, each had made there way to California and back again. Sure, sometimes the first and the third got away, succumbing to their exploratory urges, but they would always come back. The second never ran off, save for a brief period of time in which he suffered unexplained seizures and would wander in the subsequent confusion. So, for nearly five years, no matter the weather, no matter the location, no matter the state of mind, they were three. A pack of mock wolves; a group of four-legged miscreants; a collection of wilderness falsely domesticated.

But, now, after loading up in their master's truck for one more trip from North Carolina to California, the first and the third decided to explore once again, leaving the second behind. Where once was three, there is now only one. Where once was the sound of dogs wrestling in the yard, there is now only the silhouette of a German Shepherd waiting for the return of his adopted siblings. Where once there was joy in a master's glance, there is only worried pessimism. And a lack of sleep.

For his collection has dwindled to a solitary dog.


14 comments:

Yoork said...

I think you're closing the book before the story has ended.

Ravyn said...

Oh what adorable dogs! I hope you are able to find your friends and that they will all live a wonderful life in CA.

Brian Miller said...

a sad day when the collection gets broken, particularly among friends. your muse is returning nicely eh?

Wings said...

Not a good way to break up a collection. Hope the missing pieces find their way back. Good luck!

Boom Boom Larew said...

Great take on the collection theme. (I can only manage one dog in my collection.)

Not For Jellyfish said...

That's so sad. I hope they come back. The kiddos want Starbuck back.

Skip Simpson said...

I wondered how you were going to work in the theme! Great post!

Tom said...

aw...now the one is terribly lonely, i am sure. But how did you ever manage as many as three!? One is quite a handful.

Bitsy said...

Very nice, Jeff. Touching without being sappy, you captured the moment.

Baino said...

I don't know how you could part with them. I'm assuming you re-homed the other two or did they run away?

Empath said...

I'm glad I read this after I saw your FB update on their return!

e said...

A poignant story...I'm glad the two prodigals returned!

Ellie said...

Ohhhh... So glad they came back!

She Writes said...

So this is what the dogs look like. Starbuck is the only one that I imagined correctly. How could I go wrong picturing a German Shepherd?

It is nice to read this knowing they came home to you. They look pretty cute here :).

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