My first memory from my childhood is a stormy, rainy night with horns of cars attacking me and surrounding me and with my tired whines reverberating against my skull. I was scared. Very scared. But I keep this memory dearly.
It was this noisy, rainy night I have met my master. Firstly, he scared me away as well. His giant shadow seemed to try to engulfe me, to swallow me entirely, until my desperate cries would be silented. But then, in the buzzing, trembling light of a street lamp I met his eyes which were filled with concern and patience and something that I could not define then; and, trust me, reader, I am a good judge of character. I am a dog, after all.
This gentle stranger became my master; and I became for him Nieve. My first night in my home is somehow a blurry memory; but I can remember how frightened I was by Courage; and how good food tasted; and how, after bathing me, my master snuggled me in bed with him. The next day I smelt like a petunia; well, not really. I smelt like mint and strawberries and wine. Because this is my master's scent. When I woke up, I saw all my new friends — family, pardon me. Courage - who is really nice, in fact - says we are a family; that we are brothers; I have even sisters. Miel and Cenicienta; do I have to explain that my master can find the most beautiful names?
Oh! Name. Yes, my master's name is River. Uhum, River; when he firstly presented himself to me I almost chuckled — such a cute name he has. But the rest of the pack was serious. Especially Bolívar. He still scares me sometimes. Oh, but about my family another time, not now. Now let's talk about my master.
He is very clumsy sometimes; and forgetful; and has the dumbest habits. I don't even know how he survived without me until now. Oh, my poor life... But you know what? Master is very strong; very caring; sweet — I licked him so I know. He sometimes becomes very sad and that thing from his eyes seems to overtake his gaze. Then we all go to him and start to bark or simply cuddle him until he laughs and smiles and is his naïve self again. As far as I know from Rocky, my master's family disappeared. When I heard that, I started to love my master very much. So he understood all of us; we all remained without families or help. Some of us don't ever remember if they have ever had families before master. All I know is that I was all alone and he took me into his family; tended to me, fed me, gave me even a name.
One cold evening, my master announced that we would have a guest shortly. I knew he could be very sweet; clumsy; forgetful; but when he arranged his hair and his clothes; when he put on perfume and a composed smile... Master became truly beautiful. As I was pushed outside by Courage's paw, I stared back, somehow concerned for the human I was leaving behind. But I needed to trust my master, as Winston said to me. Our guest, I was to find later, was a stern looking man, who didn't seem too friendly to me. Pepper - this careless idiot - was the first to interact with him. He wasn't clumsy like master; he didn't seem forgetful; nor did he act like my master; so different. And yet master stared at him with the same look full of affection he had for us. He acted like this strange human was part of our family. I soon learnt his name is Doctor — or so my master called him. I didn't know what is a doctor until Lobo explained me with his reserved attitude. Oh...
This man who was so different from my master and smelt so not sweet was a saver. He saved people. From all kind of diseases. I wondered why would master need him. It is true he can get sad sometimes; but weren't we there every time to lick his face and make him laugh? Suddenly I was intrigued. The dogs seemed to get along with him — especially Rocky and Pepper. Even Bolívar, who hardly likes people — I think is something related to his past. Anyway, even Bolívar was taking a liking to him, seeing how dominant he could be some times and how easily he could relax my master.
And master... Wasn't he smiling too much? I even got worried for him. He started crying tears of happiness; I repeat myself when I say I wonder how he survived before I appeared. And we all tried to make him laugh; Winston was the first to try to cheer him up. But then Doctor distracted his atention. And then I understood. Doctor - the stern looking man who was not so sweet as my master - carried in his eyes the same longing glistening. Than undefined feeling that I got when I looked into my master's eyes; miss. They both missed something. They were both lonely, without family and without love. My concern was long forgotten now. You would have to be an idiot - or my master - to not notice how loving Doctor was looking at him; how gently he held his hand; how sweetly he talked to him; what smiles and glances full of adoration blossomed within his expression when he was close to master.
And I understood then that Doctor could fix the loneliness of the master.
He was part of the family now, as Applesauce said. Master tended to him, fed him and even gave him a name. And I had nothing against it. Because, indeed, Doctor cured master's loneliness and sadness. He made master happy.
Oh, well, that is all about my master and Doctor. Right now, I think I will go to sleep, because master is too busy with Doctor to give me attention. They drink coffee; made by Doctor.
Hmm... I may have something against Doctor being part of our family, actually...
He steals my precious master's attention. Not fair, Doctor! I saw him first!
|{ HAHAHA MY LIFE IS DESTROYED HERE Have this drabble, you destroyer of lives river-lastro AND I HATE YOU This is all. ^^ * cries silently while smiling *