Snippets and Stories: Licking Old Wounds

A long time ago there was a small mutt who lived on a farm. It was nice there. There weren't any other dogs, but all the other farm animals were as good as family. Father and Mother Rattingham and their son, and Sister Mare, were among some of his closer "family".

But there were things he couldn't understand.

"Don't run so with your tongue out. It is unsightly." the mare huffed, turning up her nose, "The rainfall is not clean anyhow and the mud a mess. That being said, you shouldn't be jumping in puddles!"

The mutt cocked his head but ran with his mouth closed, tongue withdrawn.

"Don't eat the meat. It is too fatty." said the mare.

And so the mutt left his meat untouched.

"Don't wag your tail, it is unbecoming of one to wag for others."

And so the same continued.

One day the mutt could stand it no more, and bared his teeth at the poor Mare, barking a storm and biting at her ankles as he chased her from the stables.

Mother Rattingham scolded the mutt, but he didn't apologize.

Later the mutt was growling his troubles to a monkey from a travelling circus. The circus would visit their town regularly and the monkey and dog had become good friends.

"Come with me." said the monkey, "Maybe you'll like it better in the Circus where we're free to do as we please."

So the mutt bid farewell to the farm and told the Rattingham where he would be going. Father and Mother both kissed him on the nose and saw him off. Mother Rattingham felt lonely because her pup too had set out on his own, but she held back and wished him the best.

He left and for a while it was fun in the Circus with the monkey. The mutt longed for home and a year later returned.

Mother Rattinghyn was glad to see her other pup, Sister Mare had left she said. There was a stallion whom had been courting her, and she had finally gone with him.

The mutt sent letters to her and she returned them the same.

"It is quite exhilarating to run and catch the wind and rain in your mouth!" she exclaimed in one such letter.

Mutt cocked his head, "Did you not say it was unsightly?"

The mare snuffed, "I did, but my dear Star Stallion loves the rain and having tried it myself, it is rather enjoyable. Childish perhaps, but enjoyable."

"Did you not tell me not to do so before Sister Mare?" Mutt asked, confused. Has she not told him it was wrong to do so?

"I did." and Sister Mare bowed her head, "My apologies Little Mutt. I was close minded then, and it was a part of my immaturity and a mistake then not to open mine eyes, mind, and heart. Just as it was your's to take leave of your only family and Mother Rattingham."

A spotted mongrel from Kalimpong.

The mutt bowed his head, staring at his feet. A strange weight in his chest.

"Forgive me, brother."

The mutt stared up the Mare, confused and uncertain.

Those words he had wanted so long to hear, and yet hearing them made his heart burdened.

Later that night he cried at the moon, a long lonesome howl.