Chapter Seven: Hey There

Dear Greg,

I know I usually write to you in a journal and not a letter form, as I have been doing for the five years since your death, but something incredible happened today. I just had to tell someone, and since everyone else at work has moved on from your death, I thought you would find it as interesting as I did.

So today, I went to the graveyard where you are buried. Your gravestone as always reads, "Gregory Jonathan House: An inspiration to the child in all of us". I laid the roses down on your grave, and put my hands back in my suit pant pockets. Taking a deep breath, closing my eyes, and feeling the crisp wind blow through my hair, I felt you near me. It was calming after losing two patients in a week and a half. But you already know all about that.

What I didn't expect you to know was when I opened my eyes, I saw a largish, four-legged, brown animal about twenty feet away. I instantly clenched up. As much as I love the animal kingdom, I get afraid when I am not expecting a visitor from it. The creature crept closer and closer, and I noticed it limped on its right back leg, and it was a domestic dog. The nearer it got, the more the features became recognizable.

I love leaving you in suspense…it's only fair after all the years of teasing you did for me. I saw it hobble its way towards us until it was right next to your vine covered gravestone. It was a Husky with slicing blue eyes, and light brown fur. It had a hint of gray on its snout, and it looked like it was squinting at me. I bent down, let it sniff my hand, and noticed it was a he. "Hey there. I won't hurt you, but I don't have any food for you either."

The dog was in pretty good shape, aside from the limping leg, and it didn't have an identification collar. When I looked into his eyes for a moment I saw you, smirking like old times, and then I realized it was me that was sneering. I stood up to full height, looked up to the sky in thought, and exhaled, shaking my head in disbelief. "Do you believe in Karma, Greg?"

When I said your name out loud, the dog tilted its head, as if responding with a "That depends. Do you Jimmy?" I know I am relatively insane, but I swear it. I sighed, shook my head, and walked away with my hand on the back of my neck. I kept walking like that, hesitantly, as if walking away from a cake halfway decorated. Turning, I saw the dog limping to my side, and stopping when I faced him completely.

I couldn't stand to imagine this dog, even though we had just barely met, starving out here. Or freezing to death. Those baby blue eyes stared into mine until they had etched themselves into my soul. I turned and continued walking to my car, motioning with my hand, "Come here, boy." The dog growled at me when I called him boy, and for a minute I was reminded when you would get defensive when talking about when your dad would call you "Boy". I gulped, and called out, "Come on Greg." The dog came galloping to my side, panting in excitement.

I have to go let him out now. But I am taking him to the vet tomorrow to see if he has any microchip inside his back.

Love you with every muddy footprint.

James