(Some times I have some trouble creating happy pieces; since sad or dark ones always helped me feel like I was letting go of sad or dark thoughts of mine. That used to be the only reason I could really write. To let go. To feel that release. They flow out of me more naturally.. I don’t know. So I thought I’d challenge myself, since I’m trying to beat my writer’s block to death. Here goes..)

I’m Charlie and I’ve been around for 10 sets of weather changes. I’ve been at the doggy in between for 7 sun ups and 6 sun downs. There might be other animals here too but I’ve never seen any. The nice lady who brings food is making her way down my aisle with breakfast. I always make sure to show her I appreciate what she does by licking her hand when she offers it through the chain link. I also never forget to wag my tail as hard as I can to greet her. Everybody else is always very noisy. Don’t they know humans have sensitive ears? Some times nice lady takes me out of the in between and we enjoy a walk outside. I love when it’s bright out and warm. But I do also like when it’s wet, there’s more smells outside then. Anyways, I’ve been here before. I know it’s just an in between because I left last time.

My first family was amazing. I went there when I was just a pup. They came to Smell Mom’s house and picked me out of everyone. I had a boy and Mom. We filled our sun ups with grass time, walks, and ball throw. Snacks that changed flavor all the time. It was like a dream. My favorite thing about life is happy. I remember all the good times so clearly in my head over those 7 sets of weather changes. The sun up they brought me to the in between was just like any other. I hadn’t been a bad dog or anything. I’m a good dog. Boy was crying a lot and so was Mom. I knew it wasn’t easy to leave me here. We were such great friends. I really love them and I knew they love me.

The first time at the in between was scary, I’ll admit it. But nice lady was there back then too. So she helped me a lot with my worries. I was shaking the first few days. I didn’t feel like eating. All I could think about was that I was, I am. A good dog.

On the third sun up, Dad came. We walked around the in between’s grass. He made me feel calm and relaxed. We sat together on the bench by the in between’s front door and greeted people that were going in or out. Dad would tip his hat and I would wag my tail. He stayed with me at the in between nearly the whole sun up and then we went to the front desk. Dad used a stick on some white papers and nice lady told me to just keep being myself because I am a good dog. Then we went home.

Happy with Dad was totally different than it was with boy. That was fine by me. Dad liked to watch picture box and sit on the couch. He would eat food box dinner every night and share with me. He taught me what roast beef is too. That stuff is good. He would tell me stories about when he was a pup. We didn’t really do walk but we did do grass time. Dad liked to sit in his chair outside while I sniffed the yard and made sure it was safe. Occasionally, Dad would do ball time but he would get tired after a few back and forths. That’s okay. I love Dad. The day I went back to the in between, I woke up earlier than usual. My bed was on the ground of Dad’s room next to his. Something smelled off. I nosed Dad a few times to tell him it was sun up like always but he didn’t budge. He smelled different. Some time passed and Dad still didn’t wake up. Strangers came in our house. People I’ve never met. That made me nervous. They took Dad. I tried to bark from far away but I don’t think they understood. Where he goes, I go. I was alone for a little while in home. Then nice lady came from the in between to pick me up. I was happy to see her but I brought her to Dad’s room. Could she smell that? Did she know they took him and she was there to bring me where he went? Nice lady had tears in her eyes when she hooked my leash onto my collar. She let me ride in the front on the way.

When we pulled up onto the street of the in between, I recognized the smell right away. I was worried about Dad. Was nice lady not going to bring me to him? Nice lady told me a few times over the next few sun ups that Dad was gone and she was sorry. Said I’ve been dealt a crumby hand, whatever that means. She promised that she would find someone else for me to love. But I wanted Dad.

So it’s been 7 sun ups and 6 sun downs now. It gets kind of boring here. No one gets any ball throw or treats that change flavor or couch with picture box. Nice lady has brought me roast beef a few times though. Today, she’s staying by me extra long. She looks so happy. I know happy. Her happy makes me happy. The sun up becomes a sun down and nice lady comes over and starts to open my door. It’s a little dark for walk but that’s still fine by me. Nice lady is so happy and excited, if she had a tail it would probably propel her forward with it’s wag. We went to her car again. I was confused but I got in.

She brought me to her home. When we got there, there was a big sign that said “Welcome Home Charlie” and I can’t read but I have a feeling it was for me. She kept pointing at it and petting my head. There was a bed next to her bed just for me. She got me treats I’ve never had before and we had roast beef every 7th sun up. We do walk and ball throw and grass time and picture box and couch AND nice lady’s bed AND rope pull. I love nice lady. I call her Mom now. She brought a piece of Dad’s bedcover from old home for me to sniff when I wanted and sometimes, boy would visit. I can’t really keep up with him anymore but that’s fine by me. It makes me happy to see him. I’ll never forget Dad but I am happy. Life with Mom is full of happy, bursting at the seams like all of my new squeakies. Oops. She brings me to places I’ve never been. She waits for me to finish my sniff before continuing a walk. She also got me foot covers for wet and cold wet. They aren’t my favorite but I make it work. I’ll do anything Mom asks because I love her and she loves me. I think she is my soulmate. She never lets me forget that I’m Charlie and I am a good dog.

(Happy sad? Sad happy? Ehh.. I tried.)