I could have been nicer to him.

I went home like usual, this time to an empty house. Tess took Olive and met some of her family out at some mall on the other side of Denver. I prepared to have a somewhat lonesome lunch. At least we have a cat named James and a dog named Emitt.

Both of these animals are awesome. They love everyone, they always want attention. The cat listens like no other pet I have ever come across. First off if you say anything that is somewhat directed towards this cat he assumes you asked him to cuddle, so he struts over to you and treats you like his lover. But...if you tell him "No" then he will walk away or frantically run depending on his mood, he is quite the character. He is a Maine Coon. A big cat that acts like a dog. Me and him chase each other around the house. It's fun. He makes me laugh all the time.

On the other hand, our dog, Emitt. He doesn't listen, well, he listens and understands but it's up to him whether he wants to obey or not. He is freakin smart. He learned to sit, stay, and shake in one day. He knows. He KNOWS. But he doesn't always DO. He makes up for it, he is pretty cute. He's an American Bulldog so he kind of looks like a pit bull but with a bulldog face...really pretty dog. He's a big dog, a good guard dog, a good family dog. He loves everyone and gets so excited when he meets new people. Big brown eyes that love being alive. I got him for Tess.

Anyways...back to my lunch story.

I opened the door to a quite house like I anticipated. I walked into the kitchen to fix me up something good, probably reheat the tuna salad that Tess made the night before. I grab a plate from the cupboard and glance out the window and notice trash spread across our yard. Freakin dogs! (We also have a 100lb Bernese Mountain dog that we are baby sitting) Dropping my plate on the counter. We have plastic plates. I walk outside and start picking everything up. Jake (Bernese) is sitting by the sliding glass door and I see Emitt laying in the corner of the yard soaking up the sun. He always spralls out when the sun is shining. I can only fit so much trash in my hands at one time so I make a trip to the trash can and call for Emitt. He's always so happy to see me, anyone for that matter. But he just lays there. I make my way towards him all the while picking up pieces of chewed plastic and cardboard.

My heart dropped. I havn't had something close to me die for a long time. It's been at least 20 years since I have seen something I love, lifeless. I stood probably 10 feet from him. His chest wasn't moving. I learned from movies that you can tell if someone or something is dead if their chest doesn't move. I specifically whispered "No." A common reaction I guess. It was a cardboard container. It took a lot of my strength to release the it, it was a perfect fit, no air in, no air out. How random that it fit tight around his head. I was confused. I didn't want to do it but I had to, I started compressing his chest. I knew it wouldn't help but I had to try, his eyes were open.

I wanted to call my mom, she would know what to do. I didn't have a phone though, it's still broken. I was on my own. I am so glad Tess was having fun at that moment. I am glad it was me who found him.

My hour was spent alone. I had to put my five month old American Bull dog named Emitt in two plastic trash bags and then in a cardboard box. I told my cat to get out of my way. I ate a Snickers bar on my way back to work and I had to call Tess from my office phone and try not to cry just yet.