Chapter Twenty Seven

Captain and Carolyn like each other; it gets more and more obvious. But it seems they need some help moving things along. It is time for me to talk to Captain again. He is so stubborn that he could be a terrier, but since I am a terrier I know how to deal with this.

It takes me a while to find him because I think he did not want to be found. Sometimes he is invisible but I always know where he is anyway. He feels different than the others, and somehow it's easier for me to sense him. Even though I do not see him I know he is in the attic. So I sit patiently and wait. And wait, and wait. After five minutes I decide that I've had enough.

Captain. I know you are here. Stop hiding.

He doesn't make an appearance.

Captain, I know you're around, you can't hide from me.

"Scruffy, what do you want?" He said, still invisible.

To see you, to talk.

"Why, Scruffy?"

Stop being so stubborn! I can out stubborn you any day of the week. I am a terrier.

"That, I cannot argue," he said and appeared. His mood seemed to have lightened a bit and he almost smiled at me. "So, what is so important that you need to talk to me?"

You need help.

"With what?"

You like Carolyn but you haven't done anything.

"What would you have me do?"

Mate with her. I gave him a happy look and wagged my tail.

"Scruffy!" He was outraged. "How dare you suggest such a thing?"

Is mate not the right word? Maybe for humans that comes later. I heard the word…date…what is that?

"A date happens when a man and woman are getting to know each other. They go out together to try to get to know one another."

Hmm, so a date is be a good thing? I looked at him in curiosity.

"It can be if you are with the right person." He gave me a knowing look.

Then mating is even better! I suggested again.

"Same thing applies, it is always better with the right person."

Have you ever met the right person?

"No, I never did while I lived." He seemed sad again.

But you have now? Carolyn?

He nodded.

Then ask her out, go on this date thing. I know she isn't dating anyone.

"How do you know that?" His blue eyes looked sharply at me.

Because I am a good listener. When Martha asked her if she was dating anyone, she said no, that she didn't want to.

"Didn't want to?" He wrinkled his brow. "I wonder what that means?"

What could it mean? I wasn't following this at all, why was this so complicated?

"The question is why doesn't she want to date? Is it because she misses her deceased husband? I could certainly understand that but she hasn't appeared to be grieving over him. Though I do wish she would say more and enlighten me as to that particular circumstance." He rubbed his chin. "Do I dare hope it is because she finds me attractive? Could that truly be enough so that she doesn't want to date anyone else?" I saw a very hopeful look on Captain's face.

Take her on a date.

"Date's in my day were much more formal, in fact; the man and woman were often accompanied by a chaperone."

What's a chaperone?

"Usually a relative of the woman, a mother, aunt, sometime a brother, that would accompany the couple on a date to make sure the man behaved properly."

So that there was no mating! I chortled, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Exactly so, my little terrier friend."

Well if you need a chaperone, I can be one. I will make sure that you do not harm Carolyn.

"And I'm sure you would do a very good job, but things seem a bit more relaxed in this modern era, I think it would be all right to be with her without a chaperone."

Then you will ask her? I twirled around in my excitement.

"Yes, I think you are right and the time has come to express my interest. In an elegant manner, of course."

Of course. What will you do?

"Share some wine, I think. Wine and a pleasant afternoon of conversation. Yes, that would be ideal. It will allow us a chance to know each other better, to understand one another better. Perhaps I will share with her the things I miss from my life, I have not spoken of that with anyone…well, since I died." He gave me that funny sad look again, and my terrier heart melted just a little.

Sometimes I felt bad for Captain, sometimes I understood just how lonely he was. I went over to him, looked up at him as though I wanted him to pet me. After a moment, he bent down, and much to his surprise, I crawled into his arms and licked his face.

"Thank you, my friend," he said and for just a moment, hugged me to him.