Jeffery

Jeffery

Contributed by W.S. White

Where is she, my Dove? Oh, my dear one. Gone for what seems to be days.
Whatever the calamity, she's left me with 3 small whelps. The 4th one died in his sleep. I carried his poor, limp body for hours; whimpering and searching for a place for him to rest. The others are not yet weaned from their mother's milk. I hunt for a small animal or bird, but they know not what to do with the meat, though I try to show them the way.

I don't remember how I found myself wandering in the wilds. I know, the devils took my mother with a loud shot. The rest is a blur. And then, I found my sweet one. As, I went hunting, I came back to find my whelps were gone. A rustle and a flash and I was caught in a trap. Those devils. A long, bumpy travail and I find myself in a small space. I pray to know where the babes are. Did the devils take them, too?

I remember, my mother's songs and her wise words to soothe her small babes. She is all I have to comfort me as I sing her songs. I cannot eat. It's always daylight. My coat, A blessed gift of the lord is growing thin. On a day, no different than the others, one comes to retrieve me. I'm taken to a small room. In enters 2 of them. The man is old, but the woman seems vibrant. There have been inconceivable trials here that I can't mention or I may sink to a sadness I won't recover from. I worry constantly about my babes. I am in a delirium. I am fussed over and cooked to by the woman. They take me to a small kennel and again, I'm put in a wagon. There is another kennel with a small, skinny dog. His coat, A matted mess.

As, I recount my tale, I'll tell you that my life with the elders was a comfort. The old man dotes on me and the other mutt. The woman spoils us and flattens us. I gradually, grow accustomed to their touch and smell. I pray, for the old man to know his lord. I pray for my sweetheart and our babes. Sometimes, I want to run to the wilds, but they know where to find me. My coat is grown again. I am well. I wait till it is my time and I will see my mother, again and she will sing her songs to soothe me. Now, hush master.
Sing.