A Boy And His Dog
Cracker Jack passed away on christmas morning.
I've been in a lousy mood since.
I feel okay today, enough so to write about him.
He was short with a big head. A reddish brown coat. He had one ear that always stayed up.
I have two very fond memories of him.
The first was back when I was 13-14. I was just learning how to rollerblade and I was out with my cousin and my younger brother on his bike walking Cracker Jack. My cousin who was walking him suggested that I take the reigns and hold on to CJ. Something instinctually told me that it wasn't a good idea, being that I was on skates and it'd be too easy for the pit terrier mix to overpower me and run off. Despite voicing my adamant concern, my cousin convinced me to go ahead with his scheme and handed over the leash.
The second the exchange was made CJ felt it and he jetted off. I tried to hold on but there was no way in hell that was going to happen. I managed to stay on my feet for a good 3-4 feet before falling on my ass. My cousin stood there laughing so damn hard while CJ ran for freedom. I looked up at him yelling in anger with tears, pleading that he run after the dog but he just stood there smiling in sheer delight at current misfortune. I looked towards my brother as he rode off into the horizon with my old 20" all blue Giant bicycle equipped with a training wheels and a horn. He pedaled as fast as his 10 yr old legs could but he had no chance. Cracker Jack was gone.
The other memory I have that really sticks out was when in high school. I was driving home one day and as I passed by the golf course which is really close to my house, I see my dad and my brother running alongside the giant fence which is meant to keep to golf balls from hitting oncoming traffic. At the time I was too busy being a teenager and just said "whatever" and dismissed the oddity of the occurrence as one of my father's many eccentricities. A couple of hours later when my dad and brother returned, they were walking Cracker Jack who wasn't with them when I had seen them earlier scurrying around the green like crazed people. With tired legs and shortness of breath they exalted that CJ had escaped from our house, ran to local golf course, got in somehow and was playing fetch with the patrons.
I miss him a lot.
It makes me sad even to point where I have regrets and I don't regret shit.
I wish I could have shared him more with others. Taken him farther than just down the street. Celebrated his birthdays with BBQ parties. Taken pictures of him. Entered him into dog shows.
And now I can't do any of that. All I can do is just talk about him in broken sentences and fragmented memories.
I have three cans of dog food sitting in the corner and I don't know what to do with them.
I've been in a lousy mood since.
I feel okay today, enough so to write about him.
He was short with a big head. A reddish brown coat. He had one ear that always stayed up.
I have two very fond memories of him.
The first was back when I was 13-14. I was just learning how to rollerblade and I was out with my cousin and my younger brother on his bike walking Cracker Jack. My cousin who was walking him suggested that I take the reigns and hold on to CJ. Something instinctually told me that it wasn't a good idea, being that I was on skates and it'd be too easy for the pit terrier mix to overpower me and run off. Despite voicing my adamant concern, my cousin convinced me to go ahead with his scheme and handed over the leash.
The second the exchange was made CJ felt it and he jetted off. I tried to hold on but there was no way in hell that was going to happen. I managed to stay on my feet for a good 3-4 feet before falling on my ass. My cousin stood there laughing so damn hard while CJ ran for freedom. I looked up at him yelling in anger with tears, pleading that he run after the dog but he just stood there smiling in sheer delight at current misfortune. I looked towards my brother as he rode off into the horizon with my old 20" all blue Giant bicycle equipped with a training wheels and a horn. He pedaled as fast as his 10 yr old legs could but he had no chance. Cracker Jack was gone.
The other memory I have that really sticks out was when in high school. I was driving home one day and as I passed by the golf course which is really close to my house, I see my dad and my brother running alongside the giant fence which is meant to keep to golf balls from hitting oncoming traffic. At the time I was too busy being a teenager and just said "whatever" and dismissed the oddity of the occurrence as one of my father's many eccentricities. A couple of hours later when my dad and brother returned, they were walking Cracker Jack who wasn't with them when I had seen them earlier scurrying around the green like crazed people. With tired legs and shortness of breath they exalted that CJ had escaped from our house, ran to local golf course, got in somehow and was playing fetch with the patrons.
I miss him a lot.
It makes me sad even to point where I have regrets and I don't regret shit.
I wish I could have shared him more with others. Taken him farther than just down the street. Celebrated his birthdays with BBQ parties. Taken pictures of him. Entered him into dog shows.
And now I can't do any of that. All I can do is just talk about him in broken sentences and fragmented memories.
I have three cans of dog food sitting in the corner and I don't know what to do with them.