Avery
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| http://www.luvmutt.com/tag/lucy-the-collie-mix-from-nebraska |
Being a Border Collie Rottweiler mix
and the runt, I was the only one of my family that no one wanted; so Roger kept
me for his own dog. Together we tamed the wild, but every year it seemed that
we can do less and less. We both were getting old and weak but we showed
devotion to each other none the less.
This past winter was hard on us.
Roger and I have never been separated more than a few hours, but this winter he
left me for a whole week and some stranger took care of me. I took care of the
place for him while he was away and when he came home all he would do was
sleep. I loved him so much that I knew it was my turn to take care of him like
he took care of me when I was a baby. I made sure he had everything he needed,
clothes, slippers, his newspaper. I even made sure the horses were ok and that they were still
where they needed to be. I didn’t worry about the cows since they were in the
mountains.
Finally in the spring Roger was well
enough to make the trek up the mountains to get the cows. We made all the
preparations and away we went. The way up wasn’t bad but once we rounded up all
the cows and were headed home the entirety of the situation went downhill. It
seemed like all the cows were being stubborn and none of them would come home
with us.
Poor Roger had to chase after those
darn cows all the way down the mountain, but all the hard work paid off.
Finally every cow was down and we could rest until we had to brand the new
calves. As Roger was putting his horse with the rest of the horses he
collapsed. One minute I could see him walking his horse the next he was gone,
disappeared. I ran as fast as I could to go find where he had gone and to help
him.
I made it to him in seconds and I
quickly herded his horse over to the others so he wouldn’t get stepped on. I
then tried to wake him, I licked him and prodded him with my nose I even barked
at him but nothing worked. I knew I had to get help. I ran and ran until I
thought I would die. I knew there was another house about ten miles down the
road and I hoped and prayed someone was home.
When I finally made it to the house
I barked and scratched the door to no end until someone opened it and I tugged
and pulled them hoping they would understand that I wanted them to follow me.
Thankfully they understood and they jumped in their car and I led them to my
house where they found Roger.
Roger was taken from me again, but
this time I didn’t know if he was coming back. What happened to him, why did he
fall, and why wouldn’t he get up. Through the weeks that followed, that was all
I could think about. I couldn't sleep because I would dream of the day he left
me and all I wanted more than anything was to see him again.
I was sick with worry and I couldn’t
bear not knowing what happened to Roger. After what seemed like years I was
taken from my home to a new strange place, one I had never been to before. I
didn’t understand why I was here and I continued to try and go home, but I was
continually caught and brought back. What if Roger returned when I was gone, I
couldn’t leave him alone. Who would take care of him? I refused to eat, I
wanted to see Roger. I had to see him; I had to know what happened. After being
at this new place a week I gave up hope. I knew Roger must have abandoned me,
left me because he could no longer watch after me.
That night I dreamed I wasn’t in the
strange new place anymore. I was back at home and Roger was there, but it
wasn’t Roger like I remembered him the day he left. This Roger was much younger
and stronger. This was the Roger I knew when I was little. I was so excited to
see him I thought my heart might burst. We played all night long and when I
knew morning would be there soon I was sad but I knew Roger was ok.
Even though I knew my dream should
have ended it never seemed to. I slept under the stars with Roger. Weeks past
and I never woke up from my dream. My only conclusion, my heart really did
burst when I saw Roger and we were in heaven, together.
~Olivia Hardy
