You Dirty Dog

     Rugby did not make me happy this morning.  I know I am responsible for my own happiness but sometimes I just let things bother me.  Today started out like any other school day… 

     Wake the kids up, get them in the shower, make sure they are dressed, encourage them to eat  their breakfast quickly,  inspect their brushed teeth, make their lunch and make sure they have everything before we head out the door.  We drive to the bus stop, stop the car and proceed to the parked bus.  Rugby is always the first one on the bus for his special treat from the driver.  I give the kids a kiss good-bye, tell them the plans for after school and attempt to coax Rugby out of the bus.  He’s usually frantically searching underneath all of the seats for a snack or a piece of gum.  But today after he grabbed his treat he did not linger on the bus.

     I didn’t notice Rugby had left the bus and by the time I had figured out what had happened he was no where to be seen.  Annette, the driver, said she saw him cross in front of the bus and head down the Trail, towards town.  After she pulled away I started to walk that way with Rugby’s leash in my hand.  I don’t normally put his leash on until after the bus leaves because he normally sticks around. 

    I easily determined what Rugby was up to.  I saw fresh moose tracks on the side of the road and knew he was on a chase.  I yelled and whistled as I followed the tracks all of the way to Seagull Outfitters, about a mile.  At that point I couldn’t tell whether I was on the fresh tracks or old tracks so I decided to turn back.  I still kept hollering and whistling all of the while hoping Rugby was at home. 

     In case you don’t know Rugby I should explain he is not a large dog.  He maybe weighs 15 pounds and is a Cavalier Spaniel, a lap dog according to most people.  Well this lap dog was on a journey and I wish he had had a camera on his collar to record it.

     I decided to take County Rd 81 or Moose Pond Road and then cut through the woods back to Sag Lake Trail.  I continued to shout his name and whistle for him and then out of no where he appeared. 

     My moment of relief and excitement was quickly replaced by anger.  I looked down at the dirty dog and immediately attached his leash to his collar.  With mud and sticks from his tail to his nose we walked the last half of a mile home.  

   He was looking for love and my normal chatter and I wasn’t giving it to him.  When we got home I went downstairs to start working and he followed me.  He scratched at my legs wanting to assume his position on my lap and I refused.  He sat staring at me with his pathetically sad eyes and his unbelievably dirty body.  Then, with one last glare and a sigh of disgust I scooped him up off of the floor and onto my lap.  Now we both need a bath.

You can see Rugby live in action on a segment of On The Road.