CHEW-CHEW

The weather app showed clouds, no sign of rain. The wind was five miles per hour. Didn't need rain gear, a hat, or sunscreen. Cool. ChewChew snored on the pet bed. Easiest dog-sitting job I'd taken in months. ChewChew's faded bronze hair rose and fell with deep breaths. Hated to wake her for the afternoon meander around the patch of grass in front of the townhome. The owners said she couldn't see, hear, or walk far. How far was the patch of grass?

ChewChew raised her head as my hand stroked her ears, "Time for your walk."

I jingled the leash and poop bags squeaked against the plastic handle.

"Upsy, daisy, puppy." She lumbered to stand.

Gently, I clasped the collar. Instantly, a boisterous, roused, energetic maniac strained to get out the door. Barely latching the front door, I was hurling down the steep stairs. Together we leaped across the street the patch of grass was not too far! ChewChew flattened to her belly and began rolling, tearing the grass with mouthfuls! A streak of lightning pierced the sky and thunder rumbled. One thousand one, one thousand two, I stopped counting. It was raining.

A cold drizzle bit my cheeks, sweatshirt becoming soggy with each passing minute ChewChew sprawled and gnawed on the wet grass. I'd been told ChewChew couldn't chew much. I'd been told ChewChew couldn't walk far. I'd been told ChewChew was well-trained on leash. ChewChew could throw up if she swallowed a lot of grass. Minutes passed. I bent down and beckoned ChewChew, she ignored me. I tugged the leash, she ignored me. I stood, tried to walk away from the grass. She leaned against the leash, grasping the green feast. The rain pelted now, icy. The tug-of-war continued, the rain and strain were getting to me.

Across the patch of grass, a door opened. A multi-colored pit bull took up the doorway. A powerful man slammed the door behind him. The Pit bull charged in the direction of ChewChew. The powerful team lunged for us. Frozen, I waited for the worst, closed my eyes. Snuffling, panting, grunting, and then a low whistle. I opened my eyes. The Pit bull was trotting along beside the man, and ChewChew leapt, I lurched forward. ChewChew was fast. ChewChew could run. ChewChew did run, I ran. Huh, I'd been told ChewChew was too old to walk.

I tried to slow our pace; I leaned back against the taut leash. Within a few feet the two dogs were shoulder to shoulder, and I, drenched in rain, cold, shivering, and soggy, was seeking to meet the eyes of the burly stranger. Embarrassed by my lack of canine skill, I managed a smile. The burly man did not smile. Shoulder-to-shoulder synchronized together the dog team pulled us forward at a high trot. We covered ten blocks, through pelting rain the road seemed endless.

I ventured another smile at the burly man pounding the pavement beside me. No sign of recognition or acknowledgement. Onward we traveled. My nose was running, my hair plastered to my face, my lips were frozen. Cold, damp, feet, clunked like wooden clogs against the cement and a burning emanated from my left knee. Burly man didn't look at me while we pounded the pavement. This is the last time I pitch n to watch someone else's dog while they vacation for a month. What if it snowed? I didn't bring ice cleats! I glanced at burly man and noticed him staring ahead, a slight smile on his face.

I followed his gaze. There, in a rain resistant, chic running outfit was a tall, lovely woman, waving and smiling at, me? Oh, no, she was waiting for burly man pinned to my side. ChewChew and Pit bull were pulling us into an encounter of the worst kind. Options, calculating speed, calculating steps, that's it! I swung my stride wide to the left my weight pulled her from the side of the Pit bull. We dashed toward the canal lined with plumes of lush marsh grass! Off-balance, I slid, I scrambled, I stumbled, and I slipped into the soft welcoming embrace of the tall grass!