a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Thursday, October 28, 2010

She Liked Dogs.

Her husband thought it was cute that all the dogs came to her and so he indulged her with this attraction he labeled a weakness.

Each stray seemed to know where she lived and gravitated there, pulled by some unseen force that placed them in her yard and on her doorstep. She welcomed all and fed and cared for them as if they were her children since she had no children to call her own.

Things began to change as the marriage grew older. The dogs, the husband once thought were cute, now angered him. He would return home from work and any dog close was bound to be injured, one way or another. The wife did not like this but kept her own counsel and trained the dogs to leave the room when the husband came home in one of his terrible moods.

The husband watched. It seems his wife and the dogs could communicate with no movements, no words, as if they could read each other’s thoughts. She rarely spoke with her husband any more…she rarely spoke at all. This made him angry; the dogs were taking something from him.

One evening the husband came home. The dogs were wary; they could sense he was more angry than usual. As they curved away from him and moved aside, they seemed to group protectively, silently around the wife. As the husband approached they growled, one or two, just a low growl, just a small warning…no harm would come to their leader.

Infuriated by even a hint of aggression from the dogs, he did not react but chose to leave instead…and drink. Returning home, he found his wife in the bedroom alone and locked the door behind him.  He wanted to discuss the disrespect she had shown. He punched her to make his point; he slapped her to make her believe…and did both, again and again.

She heard the dogs coming down the hall. They scratched at the door, trying to reach their leader, their queen. He laughed as he reached down to grab her hair and drag her to her feet. Slipping in the blood and tears that had pooled on the hard wood floor, he fell, striking his head against the bed. It dazed him and allowed her time to reach the door.

The husband heard his wife, as the door opened, speak softly, speaking the first word he had heard in months.

That word,

that request,

that command was…

”KILL!”

15 comments:

Farm Girl said...

Well it is a good attempt. I hope you go back and give some back ground. Why was the man and woman so changed? Why was he not happy anymore? Why did she pull away from her husband and turn to the dogs? Why did he start drinking?
Why did he snap like he did?
I hope you don't mind my questions they are what I was thinking about.
:)

Jules said...

Well, I thought there an ounce of reality here. Drawing from something we know?
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Wow! This is a cool story.

Country Gal said...

Wonderful, like a readers digest story, short and to the point. Misserable Bastard , sounds just like my ex ! hip hip horay to the dogs !

Rudee said...

I liked the story, and especially those dogs.

Rural Rambler said...

Oooooh Gail I love it! I love these short short stories. Befitting of the end of October. Gail have you googled short short stories? Or flash fiction?

Empty Nester said...

Wow, you have rendered me speechless. (Oh, but don't tell Hubs, he might ask you to move here)

Golden Eagle said...

That is an amazing story, Gail!

John Going Gently said...

I am hooked gail

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

The man should know better than mess with the queen. We are sure this is not the first time this has happened. Dogs know danger... Way to go pups...

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Perfect Halloween Story! I was on the edge of my seat!

Sometimes I secretly feel the same way....preferring the uncomplicated, unconditional love and companionship of dogs over humans.
Too bad dogs don't live as long as we do....

~Lisa

Empty Nester said...

Oh no! It means that you wowed me! Trust me, having something negative to say never stops me...LOL Being rendered speechless, for me, is a positive!

Sandra said...

Wow! Very intense!

Greener Pastures--A City Girl Goes Country said...

Great timing since I think this is National Domestic Abuse Awareness month, something like that. Very heavy and sad. I was on the edge of my seat too.

Rural Rambler, I love flash fiction! Short shorts are my favorite stories!

Pat said...

Oh my! Chilling and yet, deliciously a good read! Kill!

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