[ti]solo[/ti]Best Friend

It’s morning. She knew it was morning because sunny rays were on her back, and because the heating pad under her paws had gotten up to pull open the curtains.

She whined, stretching to take up more bed space. No need to rush. She raised an ear flap as she listened for the slow drag of feet on the carpet, the bathroom door swinging open, the rush of water. The flap flapped back down. She melted into the thick duvet that smelled like her and her favorite person and slept a little more.

“Sumi.” There was a hand on her head. She rolled over to demand belly rubs. Belly rubs are the Greatest Gift In The World. These ones weren’t as good, too slow, but were still a solid Second Greatest In The World. She’s on her back and wagging her tail and Atsushi looked tired but he was wearing new fur and the new fur smelled familiar, rubbery and synthetic, and it made Sumi wag even harder.

Time for walkies!

She was bouncing all over the place, excited, excited, excited. There’s the jingle-jangle of the leash and she stopped jumping so Atsushi could clip it to her collar. She sniffed his shoes—the ones for walkies that she’s not allowed to chew even though they’re very sturdy and chewable—until the door clicked open and they went into the moving metal box to go outside.

Walks are the Best Thing In The World because there’s so much to do, so much to see, so much to sniff. Not many dogs though, because not many people come to the places they do walkies in. That was fine! Sumi loved the wind in her fur, loved being with Atsushi, and she loved walkies.

They pass the buildings and the distracting road until she can feel grass under her paws. They squeezed through alleys and little winding shortcuts, Sumi barking every time Atsushi whistled for her to keep up. They reached a hill.

There was a flower by the side of the road, and she’s sniff, sniff, sniffing it up. Very interesting. She has walked this path plenty of times but they’re usually running too fast for her to investigate the flowers.

Her ears perked up at the sound of a groan. She padded back.

Atsushi was on the ground. She nudged her head on his leg, trying to make him get up, or get on his side if he wants to lie down. He looked kind of like a dog, standing on all his legs, and she’s not sure if it’s normal for humans, but it must not be nice if he’s making those sounds.

He’s saying a lot of things, and she can only make out a few words, namely “Stop”, “Slow”, “Bad”, and a slew of loud words he used when he’s excited or angry. Angry this time. But none of them were directed at her, and he didn’t even notice she’s back until she pressed up against his side.

His hand was on her back. Sumi didn’t sit down, recognizing what she’s meant to do. Her eyes are open and her ears—super open. Standing up like flags. She’s keeping a look out for threats, like humans with the flashy lights, cars, big animals, and squirrels. Sumi is bigger than most dogs that look like her. She can take on anything.

The sun crawled into the sky. They sat by the edge of the road, Sumi lapping up water from her bowl, Atsushi drinking from the bottle he used to fill it with. She paused and watched a car drive by. The road was filling up.

“We should head back. You hungry, Sumsum?”

Sumi barked. Atsushi picked up her bowl and put it away in his bag. She bundled up against him, holding still as he slowly got up from the ground. Though she’s eager to go home and eat, she stays still until Atsushi lets go of her back. She learned this trick nearly a year ago, and she was very good. The ruffling hand on her head told her that.

They head home. It was even later when they reached the door since they didn’t run. Her packmate, Box Head, was awake to greet them. They weren’t wearing a box yet. They screamed when Sumi jumped onto them to lick the weird face gunk—there was always new face gunk and today’s was not very tasty!—then she hopped off the couch to the kitchen, where Atsushi was filling her bowl.

Breakfast! She munched and munched until she’s licking the bottom of the bowl, and then she goes to paw and whine at Atsushi sitting at the table, because she knew he still had food. He had a lot more food these days, which meant a lot more food for Sumi!

With breakfast done, she spent a little more time lounging on the floor, resting from running and eating until the faucet stopped. She followed Atsushi into the big room where Box Head was sitting on the couch in front of the big thin box full of tiny people, her pack yelling at each other. Happy yelling.

Atsushi whistled. Box Head said no, no dogs on the couch, but Box Head was lower in the pack than Sumi, so she climbed on the couch and cuddled up to Atsushi’s side. This is the good side. She could put her head on this leg, and she does, and a hand comes to rest on her head as her eyes drift shut, happy and sated.

She wished every morning could be as perfect as this.