Lara, Reuben and the grandkids would come over as often as they could. Lara and Reuben were able to take showers and do laundry while they were there and would visit in-between. They never stayed long because there was not much room. Nevertheless, Isabel and Dotty were always happy to see them.
Isabel was awakened one morning first with a crash, a scraping noise, and then a squeal. What in the world was going on? She quickly threw her robe on and went running into the kitchen. Wouldn’t you know it? Drama Queen Dotty had a mouse in her mouth. That grin was in place even with the mouse in her mouth. She was quite pleased with herself. But that was okay because Mom was pleased with her also. And for Dotty they had one less mouse in the house and she would not have to be dealing with it.
Dotty’s previous family never got to see her again, though. With their jobs and very busy lives on the social front, there were just not any opportunities to go see her. Their sadness of not seeing her was balanced with happiness in knowing Dotty was in good hands and where she needed to be. And for Dotty, they had become a very distant memory buried in the archives of her mind.
Chapter 8 – The Middle Years
The years had been good to Dotty. She continued to be a lean, mean, black and gray drama queen, however. She played that to the hilt; she had it down to a fine art. But no matter what happened, no matter what the dog had done, no matter how sulky the dog was, Isabel could not stay mad at her for long. Dotty always ended up on Isabel’s lap with that almost imperceptible grin.
When Isabel was not attending to Dotty’s needs, she was either sewing or crocheting. Not only were those her hobbies, but she could make affordable gifts for her family’s birthdays and also for Christmas and other special occasions. Almost everyone in the family had a quilt that Grandma had made. After the last two graduated from high school, they would all have one. Dotty would sleep contently in her bed while Mom was hard at work.
Fortunately, Isabel could still drive. Wherever she went Dotty would also go, if at all possible. She never got over her major separation anxiety issues, so Mom would only leave her for brief periods of time. Because they were so close, being separated was hard on both of them.
Dotty enjoyed riding in the car. Isabel would slightly crack the window so Dotty could feel the wind blow across her ears and face, but not enough for her to get out either accidentally or on purpose. Dotty would curl up the outer edges of her lips and “smile.” That always brought a smile to Mom’s face. She was just too doggone cute!
It was the dog’s life for Dotty. From sleeping, to going outside, to eating, to sitting in Isabel’s lap, to playing, to barking at real and imaginary intruders and repeating the cycle again several times daily. All of the dog’s physical and emotional needs were met by this very special person in her life. The dog was appreciative and so she aimed to please. She gave unconditional love in return, and always brought a smile to the faces of all who observed her. She was that adorable!
Chapter 9 – Monkey Wrenches
The year Dotty turned eight Isabel started having some serious health issues, making it necessary for her to be gone more and for longer periods. Dotty was quite distressed. Not only was she worried about Isabel, but she had never made any bones about the fact she did not like being left alone.
Isabel had doctor appointments, trips to the pharmacy and trips to the hospital for diagnostic tests and labs. She also had two short hospital stays as an inpatient. Lara and Reuben had been living in their car since they lost their home. But when Mom would go in the hospital, Dotty would stay with them. It was hard on everyone involved.
Since Isabel lived in a senior apartment complex in a small apartment, Lara and Reuben could not live there. But out of necessity they did go over to stay as much as they could and for as long as they could. Dotty did not mind having them there. She got to be in the comfort of her own home. She had lived with them for several years and loved them very much. Plus, she had the added incentive of not having to be alone. It was all good.
Lara and Reuben knew they had to make a decision soon, not only about Mom, but about Dotty. It was tearing them apart. Dotty sensed their uneasiness and it fueled hers. Ugh. There were no easy answers. It hurt to think about it.
This all seemed to be okay with her. She was content as long as she did not have to be alone and besides, she had gotten somewhat used to the routine. Her little drama routines brought bright and happy moments to their otherwise gloomy days. And even though Isabel was quite ill, she was able to rest peacefully, knowing Dotty had all of her needs met. Whether living in a car or in Isabel's apartment, Dotty was still her adorable, smiling and cheerful self. As the family shared stories with Isabel about her beloved Dotty, she would form her own, very weak smile.
Chapter 10 – The Last Move
The cell phone rang. It was Isabel calling to say she had to go to the hospital again. An ambulance was en route as Lara and Reuben made their way to Isabel's apartment. The family needed to make sure the EMT crew had all the necessary information about health history, medications and personal data. They also needed to be there to get Dotty, which they knew would ease Isabel's mind.
Dotty was 11 years old now and had lived with several different families since her birth. Lara and Reuben loved Dotty very much and were concerned about her future. They were still unemployed and living in a car. Should Isabel not return to her apartment the last thing that they wanted to see was Dotty displaced yet again. But keeping Dotty with them for the long term was not feasible. They could not even afford her vet bills. They seriously considered calling the Dachshund Rescue Team to surrender her, but they knew is was too early to make that decision.
Fortunately Isabel was able to leave the hospital, but required some outpatient nursing care in her home. Dotty was so happy to have Mom home, but Isabel could no longer take care of her puppy. Lara and Reuben offered to keep Dotty with them more often and Isabel gladly gave them a little money for the trouble.
Finally some good news came down the pike. Reuben got a job! It was a good job with good pay and benefits, no less. Once he started drawing in a regular paycheck they could rent a home. That sure did feel good. Dotty had her own way of celebrating. Sensing everyone's happiness, and much to everyone's delight, Dotty did a little doggy dance that had everyone laughing.
Sadly, the celebration was interrupted by a phone call from the hospital. They were calling to say Mom had taken a turn for the worst and was not expected to make it through the night. They quickly gathered up their things and sped to the hospital. Dotty could sense that something was not right and softly whined as she watched the evening lights speed by from her back-seat perch. When they got there, they were told that Mom was already gone. The celebration turned into mourning as they reflected on Mom's life and grieved their loss.
After Isabel's service and after everything had settled down, Lara and Reuben were finally able to move into a small home in the country with Dotty. It had a small fenced-in area off the kitchen, which would be perfect for her. They had inherited Isabel's furniture and household belongings; what a blessing they were! Not only did it help furnish their new home, but having Isabel's belongings surrounding them kept reminding them of her presence which turned out to be a double blessing.
Dotty adjusted well to the new home. Having Isabel's furniture made it all seem so familiar. But Isabel's adorable Dotty simply could not live without her, apparently, for only a week had gone by when Dotty breathed her last breath and quietly slipped away before the sun rose that day. It was almost too much to bear, but Lara and Reuben had to let this sweet pup go. They decided to bury Dotty next to the rose bushes, a very fitting place as red roses were Mom's favorite. They had a special granite slab engraved as a memorial to Dotty. The gray stone was engraved with black letters and a gray and black Dachshund profile. It simply read, "Mom's Adorable Dotty." The roses would bloom as a fitting memorial to Dotty and to Mom for years to come.
###
Other books by Stella Dillenbe
ck:
Uncle Trucky’s Sidekick, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/512336
Sir Walter Raleigh, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/516656
Gold Rush, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/521481
Finding Gold, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/525024
Modoc Point Pups, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528948
A Salute to Sparky, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/533307
Deserted in the Desert, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/536725
Sherman, the German, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/540406
From Tears to Triumph, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/544477
The Dream Team, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/548450
The Chuckwagon Gang, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/552534
In the Eye of the Storm, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/556846
Out of this World, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/601482
Reaching the Last Frontier, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/621408
Once Upon a Shining Star, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/624177
The Tough Lumberjack Dog, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/657572
From Splinters to Splendor, https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/662338
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends