Chapter 32

Captain is thoughtful today and I walk beside him on the beach. It is a nice day and I trot along happily at his side. He hasn't said anything, just walked and walked, and walked. Does he ever get tired? Or do ghosts never tire? No matter. I do not tire easily and I will walk beside him until he is ready to talk.

More time passes and he finally stops, staring out at the ocean. I will not tell him, but I am glad for the rest. And I am thirsty. I wish he would have brought some water for me. But I sit next to him and stare out at the sea for a few moments. It is time I spoke to him, dog to man.

Captain.

He looked at me and waited.

I want to talk to you.

"About what, Scruffy?"

About you …and Carolyn.

"Are you asking my intentions towards your mistress?" His look was pure astonishment and I could see he was trying very hard not to laugh.

Yes, as a matter of fact I am. It's clear that you two are attracted to each other. Why don't you do something about it?

"Scruffy, again? It must be easy to be a dog. Humans are a bit more complicated."

You're telling me, I muttered and with my back foot, scratched my ear.

"It's not as easy as you think to tell a woman that you are fond of her."

I sat up and stared at him. Fond of her? Fond of her? You're in love with her.

"I am not." He crossed his arms in front of him.

Why can't you just admit it? I think she loves you too. I stopped to consider and then looked at Captain. Or at least she is getting there.

"Do you really think so?" He asked a bit too eagerly.

Yes I do. She thinks you are handsome. I realized too late that I should not have said that because Captain has a very large ego. He stood tall and straightened himself proudly.

You take yourself too seriously. I studied him for a moment. You don't want anyone taking what is yours, do you? That's why you got so mad at Blair. You thought he was going to take us away, take her away.

"How can you be just a dog?" He tugged on his ear and stared at me.

I am not "just" anything. I am a terrier. We are smart and independent. You should know that by now.

"My mistake," he looked like he was about to laugh again.

Why don't you do something about it?

"Scruffy? About what"

Keep up, Captain. About Carolyn. Humans go out, why don't you ask her out.

"Because I am not human. How can I possibly court her?"

I don't know what court is, but she would go out with you. I wagged my tail at him to affirm the fact.

"Do you have selective hearing? I am a spirit; I cannot go out with her. I cannot be with her."

Of course I have selective hearing and now I am not listening to you because you are not making any sense. She likes you, you like her, tell her.

"You do not understand," he intoned in his somber voice and turned back to face the sea.

I growled at him! Sometimes I just wanted to bite him! How stupid must he be?

Captain?

He refused to look at me.

Fine. Maybe I should tell your other secret too. That got his attention.

"Scruffy?"

If you can be annoying, I can be annoying too.

"Scruffy!" He was now using his commanding voice which I found even easier to overlook. I gave him a cold terrier shoulder and ignored him all the way back home.