The Dog

By Charles McElreath

And there he was, all tied up to a fence. Laying down with a look of remorse on his face. He sniffed the air, turned his head and looked at me. He was a brown medium-sized mutt, with long ears and a big snout.  He looked young but also seemed fully grown.  His eyes were a really dark brown.  He looked sadly at me and he wagged his tail timidly.  So I stepped a little closer and let him sniff my hand. “Good boy. “  I thought he might be hungry so I took my sandwich out of my backpack and gave him a piece.  He gobbled it down so I gave him another.  “You must be hungry boy.”  

Like me, bright orange hair and freckles scattered across my face. The dog whimpered at me. I didn't know what to do next. My dad hated pets. He'd be outraged at me if I was caught bringing a dog home. He’d surely hit me. Like he normally does whenever he’s mad. Then I thought to myself he was going to hit me anyway. I felt the physical and emotional scars as if they were fresh. Should I go home? Should I run? I’ll leave tomorrow and I’ll bring the dog. I’ll name him Finn. The dog raised his head, almost as if he could hear what I was thinking. I didn’t know what to do, I was only eleven at the time. So I decided to bring him home and hide him until tomorrow morning when I would run away.   I untied him from the fence and used the rope to lead him home.  

When we got home I looked in the windows to see if my Dad was home and I listened for any noises.  He was not home yet.  I sighed in relief.  I took the dog through the house and grabbed some old blankets on the way.  We went outside to the backyard where there was a shed.  I arranged the blankets so the cold floor of the shed was covered.  And I told the dog to go in. I ran back to the kitchen, got some leftover hamburger meat and a bowl of water. I brought it out to Finn and set it down.  He drank the water, “Be a good boy and stay.  I’ll take you out for a walk tomorrow.”  I turned the light on in the shed and closed the door. I prayed my Dad wouldn’t find him.

I did my homework and cleaned up the house.  I dusted the furniture, I vacuumed, and washed all of the dishes.  If the house was a mess, my Dad would yell at me.  My Dad comes home at various times - I could never tell when.  I didn’t know how much time I had.  I made myself a couple of  peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner and a cup of water.  I needed to check on the dog at least one last time.  I peered out the window to see if my Dad was coming.  All I see is the empty street.  I run to the backyard, and carefully open the shed door.  Finn was still there asleep, wrapped in the blankets.  I quietly closed the door and ran back to the house.  The door was locked! It locked behind me!

I was terrified.  How could I get in the house?  I saw an open window in my Dad’s bedroom.  Maybe I could climb up the porch railing and get on the roof. I boosted myself up to stand on the railing.  Then i grabbed the roof and tugged myself up.  I walked up the roof to the window and pushed it open. I held the window up and crawled through.  I close the window and carefully walked through my Dad’s room. It was a mess.

I put on my PJs, brushed my teeth and laid in bed.  I was so scared.  To scared to fall asleep. What if my Dad found Finn?  He would make him leave and I’d be in huge trouble. I couldn’t sleep always imagining I heard him at the door. Finally sometime after two o’clock I fell asleep.

I was awoken by knocking at the door.  I saw light streaming through the window and I remembered the dog! I jumped out of bed and peered through the front window to see who it was.  It was Aunt Margaret, my father’s sister.  She was wearing her green jacket and was carrying a large bag.  I loved Aunt Margaret.  She was always so nice to me.  She always said she wanted me to live with her but my Dad wouldn’t allow it.

I opened the door. a cool breeze flowed through the opened doorway. She smiled, “He finally agreed ” she said warmly “ You’re going to live with me, Dylan” For that moment, I was was happy, but then I remembered Finn. “Aunt Margaret, do…” I stumbled” Do you like dogs?” She looked at me and started to smile.  I took her out to the backyard. And slowly and carefully opened the door to the shed.  Finn woke up and sniffed the air.  Aunt Margaret smiles and looks at me.  “What’s his name?”   As soon as she said that, I knew I could keep him.  Finn finally had a loving home. And so did I.