Alice the dog

1.   As I was growing up in a rural part of the southern Us I didn't have many friends. I did well in school and sports but that also meant I did not have much time to socialize. My parents, seeing this gave a dog when I turned 12. She was a stray they rescued from the pound. She was about 1~2 years, dirty and scared.
I named her Alice, every one thought me bonkers for giving her a human name. But she really did seem like an Alice to me, if that makes any sense.
I tried to be good to her, but as all teens, I was very moody and sometimes I would take it out on her. I only hit her once, and not that hard. She was sick and she refused to take her pill and I lost it, slapped her a bit on her leg. Felt bad then, looking back I am pretty proud that was the worst I ever did to her, she really was an amazing dog, my best friend really.
Years passed, I had university and a part time job. Luckily my parents helped me out with Alice, taking her on walks and feeding her when I was not able to.
One time I took her for a walk, before that do, I should tell you a bit about Alice. She was a medium sized fur ball, about 10~12 kg, big ears and white, light brown fur with big ears and a really stuck up figure. Like her muscles where keeping her stiff or something, really funny she was.
As I was walking her, these 3 huge dogs ran out from some imbeciles yard.
They where barking and acting aggressive wile running towards us. I never faced something like this, but I am a meticulous man and was prepared for such a thing. I took out my pepper spray and as I sprayed the aggressive dogs I realized my little Alice, even do she was small and one would rightfully assume useless in a fight, did place herself between me and those dogs and stood her ground as they came.
When they turned tail and left she looked at me crying and wanted to go straight home, I am guessing she had quite a scare.
I could not believe her reaction, even do she was scared she still did her best to protect me. Me, who was a big athletic man and even without a peeper spray could have easily defended myself.
Guess dog's are silly like that, needless to say I never forgot that.
Such a frail little animal was willing to fight against overwhelming odds for her friend. I never thought of Alice as a pet by the way, I always thought of her as my friend.


 

2. The years past and my little Alice got old, she could barely walk. The vet advised me to put her down, she was in pain, but I could not do it.
I just wasn't comfortable with taking the little life she had. I did get something for the pain, and it did seem to make her feel better. two days later Alice died in her sleep. She had her place near my bed, a comfy big pillow and blanket, I never let her in my bed till the end. I just wanted her to be near me for her last days, I wanted her to feel me close even If she passes on as I sleep, which is what happened.
I took her in the back yard and buried her wile crying. It started raining as I dug, at some point I lost track of time and then drooped the shovel. As tried to pick it up I realized my palms where bleeding and my fore arms and fingers where stiff. I had been digging for 6 hours straight without realizing, the hole was big enough to bury 2 men by that time.
Placed her in, took a brake to eat and made some hot tea. Then I went back and finished the job. I even made a Stainless steel Iron cross for her at school with the help of a very talented Shop teacher by the name of Mark, good man he was.
I made her a cross worthy of any man.
It may seem silly, but it made me feel better.
My parents tried to convince me to take another dog from the pound for years after that. But I couldn't, it just brought back so many memories. I couldn't even get rid of her boll and bed. I still have them near my study now, after so many years.

Years passed, I finished school and got a job. I was still alone, but I was happy. I was one of the lucky people in this world that got to do what he loves. It did not feel like work at all.
Some time after I met my soon to be wife. We spent 5 happy years together, she gave me a beautiful healthy baby girl during that time. After those 5 years she left me for a more "ambitious" man as he called him.
I didn't hold it against her, she no longer loved me and that was all right with me. Our daughter, do young wanted to stay with me, I raised her almost alone since she was 6 years old.
As she was growing up she shunned her mother more and more. When she was 17 she wanted a car which I could not afford, but when her mom offered to chip in she refused.




3.   I bought her the car next year as a surprise and she was very happy.
At this point we had to move for a couple of weeks, my job required it.
We where staying at this 50 stories apartment block when I had the weirdest dream. I was young, at home and walking Alice when all of a sudden she turned towards me and started barking like crazy and pushing on me with her body.
I got the most intense feeling of danger in my dream, as if I needed to run.
I woke up at 2:00 am and got my daughter out of bed. Told her we have to go. She was scared and just fallowed me into the elevator and then in the street half dressed as we where.
As we stood there I started to realize how insane my actions where and was just about to tell my daughter we should head back in.
But then, a loud blast and a blinding flash of light, as half the building blew into a burning hell.
The fire started at the 20 th floor and nobody above that floor survived. We where at the 38 th floor.
Now, this is not something that could have been random or chance. There is no doubt in my mind my former dog Alice, some how knew what was going to happen and tried to rescue me.
Even in death she was watching over me, my only friend.

At around 20 my daughter moved out, 5 years later she got married to a very nice young man.
She now has 2 beautiful children and her marriage, unlike mine is still going strong.

This I write for you my sweet daughter, don't be sad. I know it must be hard seeing me laying on my sick bed waiting to die. But my life had purpose, you where my purpose. And I am certain my dog, the sweet little dog I named you after is waiting for me on the other side. I even dreamed we where playing 3 nights ago, and last night I heard her wile I was awake, I think the time is near. She is probably anxious for me to go to her.
Don't be sad sweetie, all of us die, it's natural.
But I have something to look forward when I do, I so miss my good friend Alice.
Death seems like a small price to hold her again.
Good bye my daughter, I love you.




4.    His daughter shared with me his last words, as I share them with you, when they brought him in to my funeral home, and asked me what I thought.
She was probably expecting me to say these where the words of a delerious old man, but they where not.
Some people, people who have a certain balance within themselves and it allows them to sense many things the rest of us don't notice.
He just felt his end near and her pain. He was not rambling or acting like a fool.
Even in his last moments he was thinking of her.
She tried to keep her teers from coming out, but they did any way. I wonder if he is playing with his dog at this very moment.