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All Rights Reserved
As Published In the Clumber Correspondence
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They stood in the shadows together for a final moment. A brief look, a soft caress and he slowly moved away. It was his time.
She stood by the tarmac and watched him leave. From her position, she thought she saw him grin. But the distance and bright sunlight degraded her view. In her mind she clearly saw him smile at her as he boarded the plane. He was a warrior. Trained as a soldier, he was off to war. Tradition, being what it is, he had been titled with a name that had carried five generations before him to fame and fortune. It was his time to do battle in the name of god and country.
As she drove back to her home she thought of their time together. Theirs had been a brief love affair. The best kind. The ones you quite never forget. The kind that lingers on. Affairs, thought safely tucked away in the back closets of your mind ... suddenly spring forth with a flood of memories when something seemingly insignificant happens.
A tear ran down her face as she understood that she might never again hold him or feel his caress. She had vowed to write letters and follow his exploits through the media as news was released of the battles he would participate in. And, as a mother will do for her child, she had pledged her devotion to him.
This would, she knew, be a one way trip. It was highly unlikely that she would ever again grasp his strong shoulders or run her hands through his hair. He would not return as the conquering hero ... and most likely would not return to stand by her side. Like all who go forth into battle, the chance was always there.
A half-world away, night was falling. The phone rang with a low, almost moaning ring. One that usually means trouble. As I reached for the phone I thought about all of the things that could have gone wrong for her to call me. We talked softly about his plans and her dreams. As I listened to her cute accent, I repeated the pledge I had made to her. Long ago, I had promised that if any of her warriors came my way, I would stand by and protect them. It was time.
- Like a soldier storming a beach, he stormed out of his crate and into my arms! A grueling 27 hour flight, from Melbourne to Los Angeles to Houston and HOWY is now at his new home.
An Aussie, now a *born again* Texan!
Although "Howy" is a Clumber Spaniel, he is after all, Australian!
© 2003-1996 - Ed Presnall - All Rights Reserved