i have dogs, my lord

January 29, 2007 | Filed Under ordinary 

just as we did when henry was a baby, when he slept all day and was easy to calm, easy to pacify, we boasted of his mild disposition, his coolness, his lack of unabating noise making capability. realizing that henry was lightning, photoelectric, a million tiny sparks of ultraviolet light, came later, a year, two. two days after ernie called and asked with a saxophone voice if we were up for another animal in the house, the family, the groove, this mild and quiet puppy (”i’ve never heard him bark!” lied wes; “he’s so cool,” ernie, hinting, comments as i am taken in by espresso eyes and flop of ears and fluff of soft fur) has come alive. he chases his shadow from room to room, has a sorrowful whine that i know i should ignore, has found his voice and protests at too much dinking and too rough play. he runs through the house and i, having just watched the dog whisperer, having just flipped through cesar’s way (thank you, camille!), having imagined myself to be both calm and assertive, know that i should be doing something but am not sure just what that is. ernie is out, so some sort of outdoor exercise is impossible as the boys are sleeping off the day. i am tired, having taken him for a walk in freezing weather with stupid gloves at the equally stupid time during the morning six o’clock hour.

titus. titus andronicus, named for the deranged hero of the horrible play, who, in order to save his sons from death, had his own hand chopped off and sent to saturninus. hopefully, this dog will prove to be so loyal. he also has one paw that is white, which is a feature that does not go unnoticed when first meeting him, and reminds me of a hand, a lone hand. we could also say that he will be a big dog and should have a strong name. silly. i never thought that much about naming my children, strange as it is. their names fit them and were chosen after they were born, not even on a list of possibilities. not so with this dog.

wish us luck, or the equivalent. i have a soft spot and an “it will be fine” personality flaw that i’m already realizing may make it hard for me to have one of those cool dogs who does what they’re told when they’re told to do it.

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