Jack'd the Ripper:
I had a dog once, did you know that? A beautiful little Corgi, and I think he had a bit of Jack Russell terrier breed mixed in. I was never sure. I was very young, after all. All I know was, he was my best friend. I loved him. We did absolutely everything together. He slept in my bed and made sure that I woke up on time every morning for school on weekdays, and when it was time to rise early on Saturday mornings for cartoons. We ate together. Played together. The only mystery where he was concerned was how I got him in the first place. To me, he just showed up from out of the blue. Like a little angel that I needed so badly at the worst time of my life.
When my mom left my dad without telling either of us, and she took me in the dead of night from our home and we left for Whitechapel without my father’s knowledge.
Little Jack's Mom:
I still don’t know about this. He’s not ready for a pet! He’s much too young!
Little Jack's Grandma:
He’s just a little boy and in a strange city. He needs a friend now before he can make any when school starts up.
Little Jack's Mom:
He doesn’t need a friend! He has me!
Little Jack's Grandma:
Sweetheart, he’s your son. Not your best friend. Thinking otherwise is just unhealthy.
Little Jack's Mom:
I think I know what my son needs!
Little Jack's Grandma:
Just … give it a chance.
Little Jack laughed in glee, as any small child of five years would when he was playing with such an energetic puppy. The small dog yipped merrily as it tore about the house with Jack in hot pursuit, neither paying heed to the growing frustration of Jack’s mother as she watched and dealt with the aftermath of the constant ‘play dates’ between her son and the newest member of their small family.
It was almost as if Jack’s mother was growing jealous over the attention her darling little boy lavished on the puppy, rather than pay attention to and spend time with her. But that would just be ridiculous, right? A grown woman, a mother especially, jealous over a puppy?
Pound Employee:
Now you understand that once turned over, you lose any and all rights? You can’t ask to take him back? You can’t even ask how he is or whether or not he’s been adopted?
Faking a tear, obviously, Jack’s mom nodded as she passed little Charlie over into the arms of the dog pounds male employee.
Little Jack's Mom:
I understand. We-we just can’t handle having a dog.
Little Jack’s wails of dismay could be heard all the way outside of their small house and into the street when he had arrived home from his grandparents’ house in Whitechapel and was told the dreadful ‘truth.’
Little Jack's Mom:
I know, honey. I’m sorry! But the door had been left open and he got out and Charlie ran away!
Jack’s mom took her little boy into her arms and held him as his tears flowed.
Little Jack's Mom:
I know. I loved him too.
Jack'd the Ripper:
It was only later in life when I had found out the truth. When I had found out that my beloved Charlie did not, in fact, run away but my mother simply got rid of him. I suppose it could have been worse. She could have taken him for a drive somewhere in the country and dumped him, leaving a puppy on his own to fend for himself. But instead, she showed she had at least some semblance of a heart and took him to the pound where he at least stood a chance. And as a puppy, he had a much higher chance at being adopted before getting put down, than a grown adult dog did. That if i could not love him and care for him, some other little boy or girl could.
Small consolation.
After that, when i knew the truth of my mother’s deceit. I found I had little love for dogs any longer. Almost less than I had for mothers, for women. Almost. So imagine my amusement when I am contacted to tell me I have to be in Las Vegas this weekend as a substitute for Brother David.
Against a Bulldog.
Card subject to change? Funny how these things work out.
