A MAN’S BEST FRIEND

I traveled the familiar gravel down the alley, skipping across the rain puddles, to the dilapidated laundromat to get my best friend in this entire world back. The only friend I have, really. A thousand memories with Gussy crossed my mind as I made my way to the awning, where the pole was bare. The “No Pets” sign flickered and was righter than ever—my damn dog is gone! Why is Marg not protecting my baby with her life? I barged into the laundromat, bouncing the door off the wall. The customers continued their mundane duties while I dwindled at the seams. Marg rushed over, knowing she better ease my mind before I lost it. I didn’t wait

for her sorry excuses, I flew out the door yelping “Gussy!”, rumbling the ground.

“I swear it, he was here… I-I-I seen some scruffy man pettin’ him and I didn’t realize he took off with him.”

The tears whelped in my eyes, blurring the lights bouncing off the rain. He could be anywhere. I hollered and hollered his name between sobs, and he must have heard me. A faint sound that I could recognize anywhere, Gussy’s dog tags clinked as his paws pounced in the puddles. Down the trashy street ran my old mutt, the stench of wet dog wafted in the breeze, filling the air with must. I didn’t ask no questions; I just hugged my boy. The dog licked all the tears off my face as I scratched his ears, making Gussy kick his foot in excitement. I nuzzled my face into his matted hair, making me feel at home again.

I was so tied up in these lovins’, I almost didn’t see the grunge man slumping through the dark. His hair was looking like Gussy’s, his clothes were tattered, and you could see his big toe poking out his shoe. He stared through me as if I took something from him! His lips split but words wouldn’t come out easy.

My instinct was to brawl over Gussy, but something in his posture made me feel guilty. He was lonely like me; and Gussy brought that same light to his dark world. I knew that feeling too well. Here I was, feeling sorry for the man after he took the only thing that mattered to me.

“God, forbid I need a friend,” the man replied. “I’ve been lone on these streets all these years, and when I saw that dog, I knew I’d made a friend forever. I didn’t mean no harm, sir” he continued.

Gussy inched closer to me, as if he knew what was going on. He knew I would never let him go this easy, but damn, I feel obligated to do something for this man. But giving him Gussy wasn’t an option. This dog was with me when I didn’t even have drawls to put on, no bucket to piss in, and no roof over our heads. Gussy didn’t care as much as the people who judged me for having a dog when I couldn’t afford to eat; I made sure Gussy ate.

“Look, he’s all I got,” I said frankly. “Here’s the deal, boss. You can take Gussy out with you on a walk when you see him with Marg, but you got to let somebody know. Don’t just go scaring me like that again,” I compromised.

The man shook his head, honored to have this last scrap of love. He put his hand up to object, but he saw Gussy stuck to me like glue. His beady eyes thanked me. Three rough souls danced in the rain. Gussy lapped and splashed the puddles as he wagged his tail, as if he knew it was a done deal. I wasn’t sure if I did the right thing, but I knew I would never give Gussy up for any price under the sun.

Katie Allison Garness is a long-lived closet writer who performs poetry at open mics in Louisville, KY. She has recently begun studying creative writing, taking the next step in storytelling. Her passion stemmed from helping others, working with troubled youth along with her life experiences and applying that wisdom to leading children and young adults to opportunities, guiding them to find successful futures. She is a caring mother and wonderful wife, a gentle caretaker of her village.