One day, Ruthie and Justin started to take everything from inside the apartment and proceeded to pile it up in that noisy contraption they called a "car". I watched them go somewhere and come back with the car all empty and ready for more stuff. They finally put me and my cage in the car and we drove for a few minutes to the new place. It wasn't exactly a fun ride. I was little dizzy by the time we stopped.
As soon as I got out of the car I knew there was something very special about the place.
I could smell it.
I got so excited that I piddled all over. Of course I got smacked for that. I figured it was alright to start making my mark in the new apartment this early on in the silly game of piddle.
As the chaos involved in moving in ensued I could hardly contain myself . I was beginning to worry that my excitement was due to something I ate. There was this new Tall one who would come and knock on the door once in awhile with something sweet and wonderful in her hands. Justin and Ruthie called this one "Marianne". I was not that interested in her at that time . I felt that she did talk a little weird. There is something in this new place that I still can't put my paw on.
The door in this new place wasn't like the boring dark one we had at the old apartment. One could actually almost see through it. I could smell through it better too. I'm talking about this door because one day there was this huge black mound sitting at the other side of the closed door. I could see it. It was still like it was waiting for something.
Woof! Mommy what's that?!
I had no idea what it was. I just knew that it was what I was waiting for. I was too scared to do anything else. Ruthie stepped out quickly closing the door behind her. She must have figured out how to get rid of the dark mysterious figure because it appeared like it just walked away. Of course she never explained to me what it was. Such bad parenting! How could she? I was traumatized!!
It was like that for the next a couple of days. The dark figure just kept coming. It seemed to have made its place in front of our door. Ruthie would get rid of it as soon as she heard me panic again. I was getting tired of it. That's why I decided to put matters into my own hands. As usual. What is this world coming too?
I discovered that there was this little thing under the door that when placed right, would prevent the door from closing properly. I studied it for days. I would quietly clawed that little piece until it was finally in the perfect position. The door barely locks into place by the time I was done. I waited for the dark figure to arrive. This time I didn't make any noise. Shivering in anticipation, I waited for the dark figure to figure out that the door was not totally closed.
BAM! The door was finally opened!
YOSHI!!!!!!
That was Ruthie yelling.
I didn't really care.
In came this huge dark figure I have been smelling and waiting for for days. He was in fact this huge 4 pawed creature. I sniffed at him again. He's a dog! Just like me! I didn't feel silly about being nervous around him however. The other dogs I have seen where never this big! And I certainly never got this close to one without a leash or protection of any sort. He looked menacing.
"Hallo. Möchten Sie herausgehen und spielen? Ich bin Yoshi!" he replied (thank you Yahoo Babel Fish)
"Huh?" I did not understand a word.
He remained calm as I started to nip at his ears. "Answer me you big idiot...who are you?!"
This time he answered me in a way I could understand " I see that you speak what my mistress would call 'English'. I am Yoshi. I live downstairs. I was wondering if you would want to go and explore Marianne's garden with me".
I was a little intimidated by his very proper and polite manner. But I decided to go with him, much to Ruthie's displeasure.
Marianne welcomed us downstairs and led us to her pretty garden. There , Yoshi loosened up a lot more. He was a dog after all. That was more like it! He showed me the best little spots to cool off in the summer. He instructed me on how to drink from the fish pond without ruining his master's flowers. He told me to leave the smug little fishes alone. They didn't taste good anyway. No matter how attractive they looked. He even showed me where to relieve myself without being a nuisance.
I followed him everywhere. He seemed to be a very wise one. He is a lot of fun to hang out with. Not only that, his mistress, Marianne, gave me way better snacks. None of those measly dry , tasteless crackers that Ruthie gave me..the cheat!! Instead, I got these tiny round and juicy tidbits of something! I was helplessly and hopelessly in love....I think I just found my soulmate/s ;-)
I spent the rest of the summer playing with Yoshi and being fattened by Marianne. It was wonderful. As soon as the leaves started falling from the trees tho, things started to change. It started to get cold. Yoshi didn't seem to be up to much activity when the season changed. Ruthie started to keep me indoors more and more. I knew Yoshi was lonely, because I could hear him crying, all the way upstairs. I could see him through the glass doors. He would raise his head up and howl, probably like his ancestors.
"I'm sorry buddy! They will pay for this injustice!" I would call out. I had little hope that my measly bark could reach him at that point.
I was bent on revenge. I tore up all the little toys Ruthie offered me. "Its blood money! I shall not be bribed! I want my friend back".
But alas, no matter what I did, Yoshi and I were destined to be kept apart. At least until the weather started to warm again. I finally lapsed into being the nice little lapdog that my Tall ones seem to appreciate the most. Those days, I just curled myself into the beanbag and dreamt of those free days Yoshi and I used to have.
To be continued
