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Swirls formed in my nearly full drink as I spun it on the countertop. Buck’s was pretty quiet this time of day. It was never actually ‘quiet’, but most people are hanging around their jobs and some in school now. I didn’t have much to do today, I’d probably drop by the Curtis’s later on but I’m not really feeling their ‘happy birthday’s right now.
I never really understood the big deal around birthdays. Like, you got older, cool. Good for you? I guess? It doesn’t even make a difference. I guess there’s the thrill in some ages. Being old enough to legally drink (though people around here don’t listen to those laws anyways), being old enough to leave the house, and whatever other freedoms you’re promised when you’re ‘finally mature’. Maybe I just don’t get it because I can’t remember a time that I had those age-based rules to break.
I still celebrated my birthday though, don’t get me wrong. A couple of drinks, maybe making plans, whatever I felt like. I never threw parties or went to them just for getting older, but in some way I celebrated each year. It’s what felt right.
My drink emptied after a bit and I got up. I’d be headed out to do something, whatever I came across. I took a quick trip upstairs for my jacket and then I was out. For a while I left myself to wander because it wasn’t too cold yet, but my feet brought me to a stop when a little dog ran right in front of me. It tumbled to a stop when it saw I stopped too and it sat to stare at me.
Whatever, I had time to kill. I sat in some grass, letting distance stay between us. The dogs I’ve seen before that don’t tackle you at first glance like to get used to you. So I waited for a little bit, but not long because the dog was already walking to me and sticking its head out to get my scent. I put my hand out when it got close enough so he could smell it. I stayed still as best as I could, sudden movements might scare it.
The dog completely ignored my hand, instead stepping carefully onto my lap. It didn’t have a lot of fur like some dogs, which left it chilly. It must’ve felt my warmth real quick because before I could do much it was trying to keep itself under my unzipped jacket. I pet it once it got comfortable where it was.
Shit, no collar. It must be one of the strays.
“You a stray, dog?” I asked, waiting for no reply but the dog turning its head to look up at me. “Can you show me where home is?”
The dog put its head back down on my leg. No home. Unless the dog didn’t know what I was asking, but most people around here teach their dogs to know home.
I knew Tulsa’s weather wouldn’t go easy on this dog and it sure wasn’t going to get better than this weather any time soon. It didn’t deserve the cold here. “Do you wanna come to my house, hm?”
It only got closer to me. Probably a yes.
I slid my hands under the dog and picked it up. “Alright bud, I’ll get you there.” I made my way back to Buck’s, making sure the dog still seemed interested every now and then. I tried to put it into my jacket a little more when I got to the door to avoid questioning from Buck.
It worked for the most part. He did stop me on the way upstairs and that’s when I thought I’d be done for with this dog, but he just told me happy birthday. Dodged a bullet there.
“Yeah, I probably will,” I said quickly before I turned back for my room. I set the dog on the bed and shut the door before it could try to run out when I wasn’t ready.
“Alright dog, we’re home.”