You ever have those moments where you jolt awake, almost like it was a cattle prod stabbing into your lower back, pushing you, shocking you back into reality? Then, after being driven into the darkness that is reality, blinking through the sleep, you wonder where you are, what is happening and was it really a cattle prod that woke you? Sometimes I'll twist around to check my backside just to be sure.
Anyway, that happened again last night. Seems to be happening more lately. I know now it was Hemingway, kicking in his sleep. But it makes me wonder sometimes if its the promise. It also makes me wonder if Hem misses Lady Bonita and maybe he's dreaming about her. Running with her in the backyard, a place a dog deserves to be, free enough to chase his "girlfriend", or I guess more like sister...
Ahh, I've got to get off the subject.
Idiot!
All it does is crash down waves of memories about a life I can't have anymore and that's just selfish of me. But still I have to wonder, would Hem be better if I could have left him behind. I guess that was my first mistake.
Stop!
Can't think like this. It's not about me, this is about the greater good. Hem is just as happy with me as if he was back home. Anyway, I have more important things to do like find breakfast.
I scan around the alley, wrap up my blanket and look down at Hem. I always love this time of day. The sun cresting, it is the cosmic equivilant of a reset button. No matter the promises, the hopes, the failures, here is another chance to get out there and share the worth of the promise. Hem's sitting like the good boy he is, tail is slightly wagging and I am now noticing he's got "the look" in his eye. That sly look like he knows something I don't. This usually goes one of two ways, either he's going to take off after an alley cat or we are gonna have a feast.
My stomach grumbles a bit and I scan the alley and its dumpsters once more. It won't happen here, a business complex on a...what day is it, Saturday? They won't have anything here, I've seen the fat slobs who work in these sterile boxes. They won't even toss out a stale donut; but that's the duality of it all. It makes this the safest place to sleep at night and that's just till October anyway.
Hem is nudging at my hip. He's ready to go. As I put my blanket into the backpack I decide to grab his ball. A quick chuck down the alley and he's off chasing it, his clicking nails echoing all the way.
Lead us to something good today boy...
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