Five pets Jack O'Neill remembersstarglyphOctober 30 2006, 04:26:19 UTC
1. One of his earliest memories was of a big farm dog his folk’s owned; already gray-muzzled when Jack was born. There are a couple of black and white photos of him as a toddler, sleeping with the dog. One from a family camping trip, another has them on an old quilt at some park. He doesn’t remember much about the dog; only how nice, warm and safe it was to sleep with someone, some body, wrapped around him.
2. One summer Jack found a lizard that had fallen into the small pool in his backyard; he rescued it proudly. His mom took him to a flea market and he spent his one and only fifty-cent piece on a cracked fish tank to keep it safe. Catching live bugs to keep it fed was trickier, but he took his responsibility seriously. After a few weeks, he found the lizard on the floor, dead and bloody, victim of his sister’s cat. When he realized it got out because he hadn’t put the lid on tight after the last feeding; he was so ashamed he told his family he’d let it go. After that, he gave the tank away and refused to catch anything but fish.
3. He got his very own puppy after begging for two years. Naming him Oz, because no way was he going to call him Toto. He told his friends it was short for Ozzie. He was a big goofy mutt and they did everything together. If Oz couldn’t go, Jack didn’t want to go. It worked both ways. A week after Jack left for basic training, Oz died.
4. While imprisoned in Iraq, he formed a sort of companionship with a rat; the four legged kind. He named him Cromwell. When Jack finally left that hellhole, he was happy to leave Cromwell behind.
5. About a month before Charlie died, they’d given him a puppy. The damn thing was always playful, excited and happy; it didn’t realize Charlie wasn’t there any more. Sara gave the puppy away the day after Charlie’s funeral because she was afraid Jack would shoot it. She was right.
Re: Five pets Jack O'Neill remembersniamaeaOctober 31 2006, 02:12:26 UTC
About a month before Charlie died, they’d given him a puppy. The damn thing was always playful, excited and happy; it didn’t realize Charlie wasn’t there any more.
Oh.
1, 2, and 3 are sweet and sad...4 is so Jack. By, my God, 5 hurts.
Re: Five pets Jack O'Neill remembersstarglyphOctober 31 2006, 20:10:46 UTC
Wow! I really appreciate you telling me that it made you cry. That's one of the best compliments I've ever had. As a very new writer, I REALLY appreciate all of your comments.
Re: Five pets Jack O'Neill rememberswhimsicalwhimsNovember 13 2006, 03:40:27 UTC
Sara gave the puppy away the day after Charlie’s funeral because she was afraid Jack would shoot it. She was right.
This one is so painful (which translates to nice job, btw). I can just see Jack, after the funeral, sitting in a chair while the puppy tries to play with his feet, and Jack can't even stand to look at it.
2. One summer Jack found a lizard that had fallen into the small pool in his backyard; he rescued it proudly. His mom took him to a flea market and he spent his one and only fifty-cent piece on a cracked fish tank to keep it safe. Catching live bugs to keep it fed was trickier, but he took his responsibility seriously. After a few weeks, he found the lizard on the floor, dead and bloody, victim of his sister’s cat. When he realized it got out because he hadn’t put the lid on tight after the last feeding; he was so ashamed he told his family he’d let it go. After that, he gave the tank away and refused to catch anything but fish.
3. He got his very own puppy after begging for two years. Naming him Oz, because no way was he going to call him Toto. He told his friends it was short for Ozzie. He was a big goofy mutt and they did everything together. If Oz couldn’t go, Jack didn’t want to go. It worked both ways. A week after Jack left for basic training, Oz died.
4. While imprisoned in Iraq, he formed a sort of companionship with a rat; the four legged kind. He named him Cromwell. When Jack finally left that hellhole, he was happy to leave Cromwell behind.
5. About a month before Charlie died, they’d given him a puppy. The damn thing was always playful, excited and happy; it didn’t realize Charlie wasn’t there any more. Sara gave the puppy away the day after Charlie’s funeral because she was afraid Jack would shoot it. She was right.
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Oh.
1, 2, and 3 are sweet and sad...4 is so Jack. By, my God, 5 hurts.
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4 Gives a bit of a jolt, and 5 - that one is just heartbreaking.
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Memories of childhood pets are like that, aren't they?
Thanks, very much :)
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These are all very Jack.
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Thank you, so much.
*hugs*
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Even if I typed it wrong! *g*
I appreciate the detailed feedback, it helps to know what people like (or dislike).
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Maybe if there's a Jack and retirement prompt, I'll give him one!
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Oh, god, Charlie's puppy. Smart woman, Sara. Oh, that is just heart-breaking.
#1 is so sweet - wish I could see those old photos. :-)
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Thanks.
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This one is so painful (which translates to nice job, btw). I can just see Jack, after the funeral, sitting in a chair while the puppy tries to play with his feet, and Jack can't even stand to look at it.
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Thanks so much for that comment! If you can really picture it, I did it right. :)
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