The Incredible Joy of Seeing Her

by Fred Prout

Did you ever have to move and leave your friends behind? It’s a terrible, gut wrenching feeling for the adults, but it’s worse for the little ones. “Don’t worry,
You will make new friends.” But when there is one very special friend, it’s more
difficult. Lots more difficult.

Our fifth wheel had sliding mirrored doors to our closet. Behind one of these doors, lived Her.

Her is a thirty pound lab/ beagle rescue dog who was Kelly’s best friend.

Kelly spent a lot of time with Her. When Rita and I walked into the RV they were usually together. Napping, chatting, plotting who knows. They had their separate lives outside the trailer, but, inside, they were almost twins.

It wasn’t until several days after our move that we realized that Kelly kept roaming our new apartment looking at the walls. Looking for Her. Pretty soon she stopped,
and settled in and started making new friends.

A whole bunch of other stuff took over our lives and Her became a distant memory. Until…

Yesterday, after about 2312 times coming in the front door to our building,
Kelly happened to look up at the mirror at the end of the hall. She saw Her.
She went bananas. Tail spinning, body spinning, barking, eyes rolling, she started
running. Her was back. And life was great for the two of them. Okay, the three of us.

They can’t have tea parties or whatever, but they can say “ Hi, I missed you and
I love you.” And how important is that.

Rebuttal
by
Kelly Prout

Hoomans don’t always understand stuff. Dogs operate on a higher level. Let me set the record straight.

Her was not the affectionate companion my dad portrays. She was a whiny, needy little b@*#h who pouted when left alone. “Poor me, you guys are enjoying yourselves and I’m stuck here.” They couldn’t hear her, of course, but, I had to
listen to her constant complaints.

When I slept next to her to shut her up, it was usually with my back to her so I wouldn’t have to see her sad eyes. She probably slept the same way to show her disdain. When I saw her, briefly, in my new house, I ran and yelled “Go be a sad sack somewhere else. I’m perfectly happy being the only dog“ when I come in now, I don’t even look, just in case she’s waiting for me.

NUTS !!!! My dad just read this. He said I had to tell the truth, or I would be in big trouble.

Okay! I got mad because I was hurt. After all this time, I saw her and ran to her.
When I got close, she left. So I got mad and tried to make you think Her was not my best friend. She always was, and always will be.

Her, I love you, and I miss you. So much I sometimes cry.