In the bitter cold of the early morning Hound lay stretched out on the damp concrete waiting. The screen door opened and Hound lifted his head. Then, seeing it was her, Hound got to his feet. MadWoman came out and dumped a handful of dry food onto the ground while screaming back at the open door.
“ Joe, I want this mangy beast out of here by Friday. You hear me, Joe? You call that worthless brother of yours and tell him to get his butt over here. I don’t care what kind of family problems he’s having. This is his dog and I’m not taking care of it no more.” MadWoman kicked at the small pile of food, scattering it, then stomped back up the stairs into the house, letting the door slam behind her.
Hound ate the stale, tasteless food, then licked at the concrete where a little water was still pooled around the dirty edge of the cracked yellow bucket MadWoman had not refilled. Finished, Hound lay back down on the rough slab waiting for the day. It would be the same as the one before, and the one before that. Hound still remembered his other home, from a time long ago. His home with Boy. There, Boy would throw stick and ball over and over and Hound would fetch and return, fetch and return. Joy! There, food was fresh, water clear, cool and always plenty of it. But then, the fighting began. Master and Boy’sMom, screaming and snarling, circling each other, each seeking dominance. Hound, would hide behind the couch or under the bed, scared by the vicious, snapping tones. Boy stopped wanting to play and would sometimes hide with Hound. Those times Hound would lay his head in Boy’s lap, offering comfort, as proper.
Finally, came the day; the day Master took Hound away from Boy. Hound licked the salty water from Boy’s face trying to stop Boy’s distress that day. Hound did not know that this was the end, only that Boy’s whimpering made Hound ache deep inside, in a way Hound did not understand. Boy grasped tightly to Hound, but Master took Boy’s skinny arms from Hound’s neck, and put Hound in the back of the truck, driving away quickly. Master then brought Hound to this place. Here, where no one would throw stick for Hound to fetch and return. Where mean words and swift kicks were his only reward for dropping ball at MadWoman’s feet. Hound didn’t try to play with her anymore. Now Hound just lay on the ground waiting as the days passed, slowly, one after another.
~ ~ ~
“’Bout damn time you came and took care of your mutt,” Agnes spewed as she opened the front door. Tom tried to ignore the hateful glare from Agnes, as he entered the dark, cluttered house carrying a worn collar and leash. Tom learned long ago it was best to make any visit to his brother’s dismal home as short as possible.
Billy’s dog had been here too long, many months now, but Tom had kept hoping that he would be able to bring him back home. Tom guessed he had to face it though. There was no home anymore, no family any longer. Karen, taking Billy with her, had moved to her sister’s in San Diego. Karen had said coldly that last day, that there was no room for the dog and Tom would just have to deal with it.
~ ~ ~
Hearing the screen door open, Hound slunk tentatively from beneath the yard’s lone, scabby bush. Would MadWoman at last remember she had not given Hound water or food for two days? Then Hound saw it was Master, and Hound ran eagerly to him. Now there would be food and water again. Now Hound would play, he would fetch ball and stick again.
“Agnes, what have you done to my dog?” Tom stroked the dog’s dirty, matted coat. “My God, he looks awful.” Hound wagged his tail ecstatically for the first time in months.
“Just get that mutt out of my yard.” Agnes picked up the cracked yellow bucket and shook it in Tom’s face. “I’m sick and tired of taking care of it.”
“I shouldn’t of left him here so long,” Tom said, feeling the ribs beneath the unkempt fur. “I’m so sorry.”
“Yah, you’re sorry all right. Good for nothing bum. Why, your brother is the only…” Tom didn’t stick around to hear the rest of his sister-in-law’s venom. Letting the screen door shut in Agnes’ nasty face, Tom led Billy’s dog through the house and out the front door. Tom knew he could no longer put this off. There were no options left.
~ ~ ~
Hound, was terrified here in this small cage in this big place. Desperate barks and growls came at him from all around. The smell was wrong here, too many dogs, too many frightened dogs. Then there was the other dreadful foulness in the air. Death was near.
Master had not cried salty water like Boy as he handed Hound’s leash to the woman and left, but Hound had smelled Master’s sorrow all the same. The woman took Hound to a small bright room. She washed and brushed Hound. She cleaned out his ears and trimmed away the nasty mats from Hound’s underside, murmuring soft tones all the while. Then she brought Hound to this cage and put him inside. Woman brought Hound fresh, cold water and soft food. Hound ate eagerly and drank the clean water until he could drink no more, but now, lying on the small rug in one corner, Hound was frightened. The small fires on the walls blinked out. The others, each in his own cage, continued to bark and growl to each other. Hound curled up tight, and, tucking his tail under him, tried to sleep.
The morning brought more food and water. Woman gave kind tones and gentle pats as she put the food in the big clean metal bowl in Hound’s cage.
“You’re looking much better today, boy, and Saturday is always a good day for adoptions. I’ll cross my fingers for you.” She stroked his head gently and Hound wagged his tail as a proper response.
Woman went and opened the big gray door and in they came; masters, womans, boys and girls. Some came together and some alone. Some came in bigger packs with their many young squealing their wants at each new cage. Hound was caught up by the excitement. He wagged his tail and eagerly licked at the small fingers pushed through into his cage. His stomach was full, his thirst was quenched and the big fire did not burn at him from above. Hound was not so frightened now.
~ ~ ~
Today was Hound’s fourth morning in this place. Woman came in and brought food and cold water again and he showed her his gratitude by licking at her hand.
“It’s the last day, boy.” Woman said, her sadness all that Hound could understand. “To bad it’s Christmas Eve. We’ll be closing early too. Well, we’ll just have to see.” She went and opened the big gray door and Hound was up at the front of his cage, eager to greet the many excited Boys and Girls, but none came through. Hours passed and Hound lay stretched out on the rug waiting.
Then he came in through the big gray door. His color was different than Boy, he was bigger than Boy, but Hound knew his smell; the smell of grass and trees and of stick and ball thrown over and over. This new boy moved slowly, looking carefully into every cage. Then he stopped at Hound’s and held out his hand. Hound licked at it excited, and wagged his big, bushy tail. This new boy smiled brightly.
“Mom, I’ve found him. This is the one I want,” he said as a woman came and put her arm around NewBoy.
“Are you sure, Scott? He’s awful skinny, and I thought you wanted a puppy?”
“No, Mom, this is the one. I knew it right away, as soon as I saw him.”
“Are you sure this is what you want for Christmas? Wouldn’t you rather have a bike? A dog’s such a big responsibility.”
“Ah, Mom, I’ve waited for a dog forever, and this is the one. I’ll take good care of him, you’ll see.” Hound was excited by NewBoy’s tone; it was full of everything good. “We’ll go to the park every day and play fetch. It’ll be perfect, Mom!” The woman, Mom, smiled and nodded. Hound’s cage was opened and a leashed was snapped onto his collar and handed to NewBoy, now Hound’s Boy.
Together, Boy and Hound ran through the big gray door, wildly calling and barking their happiness. Together, that third day, the day that could have been Hound’s last, Boy and Hound played fetch and return, fetch and return. Joy!

Laura can be found on the web also, address below.

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/iecwc/index.html