Claiming Lucky

My friend Martin loved to tell us how Lucky came into his life. Because I'm a writer, I made it a short story. Here's the end which became part of Martin's eulogy.

HOW MARTIN CLAIMED LUCKY AS HIS OWN:

Damn near seventy, Martin thought as he drove home that winter night. Wasn’t he too old to have a dog? Total responsibility, that scared him.

When he unlocked his front door, Lucky followed him inside, panting nervously. Martin headed straight to the kitchen to fill a water bowl.

As he reached down a dish, he realized how delightful it was to select just the right one for Lucky’s water. Gosh, it was also delightful to think of going to the pet store tomorrow to select a real dog bowl. Two bowls in fact, one for water, one for food.

Then he remembered the Alpo Liz had given him.

“Take him, I already have a dog,” she’s said. Pissed off. The can was still in the car.


He had to knee the dog back from following him outside. As he fumbled around the upholstery he heard a whine from inside his house, light as a bow on a violin string. Martin paused. It was a new sound in his life, the beginning of something. Maybe, too, the end of something.


He would miss Liz’s kitchen. She would be tidying up now and in his mind he saw her wide rump as she bent to add a glass to the dishwasher. What had repelled him now seemed endearing because it belonged to a woman he had loved. Yes, he loved her but not enough. Women were needy, it was their nature. As it was his nature to avoid it.

The Alpo can was already very cold. He’d nuke up a few spoonfuls right away, just to make Lucky feel at home. The dog—his very own dog, his first—might like that leftover salami. And then he thought, no no, too fattening, he’d throw that out right now. Tomorrow he’d buy proper dog food and go on a real diet himself. Take Lucky to the dog park. The exercise would be good for both of them.


He twisted the handle of the can opener while the dog sat at his feet. Lucky’s bright eyes followed every movement of Martin’s hands.


“So, you love me already, huh? How about a little taste of Alpo, Lucky?”