Sweet Dreams

The other night I was awakened about 1 am by the mutt crying because he needed to "go". He usually gets let out around 10 pm and he was goofing off instead of doing his business. So he was up at 1 begging for mercy. I was half awake, threw on a robe and went to let him out of his kennel. He immediately went to the door which I opened into the sunroom and then to the slider to go out. I opened it and out he went. Without his tether attached, without an enclosed fence. I stood there in my a semi fog, watching him trot away into the night.

I called him to come repeatedly. He didn't come. I went after him in my robe and bare feet, carefully picking my way in the dark through the land mines that hadn't been scooped up yet. He was in the neighbors yard.

I crept into the neighbors yard and called to him again. He didn't come, but he did start howling because he either couldn't figure out how to get to me from on top of the terraced hill or he was chasing around with another animal. He made such a racket that I was sure the entire neighborhood had woken up. I couldn't tell for sure what he was running around after. I didn't have my glasses on. My feet were freezing. I had to go back to the house to throw some clothes on and shoes on so I could climb up to get him.

When I came back in the house, Dan was up and dressed and stressed. He'd been woken out of a dead sleep. Oh Great.

After my lame explanation, he went out after the dog and I threw some clothes on and sat down. He came back in wanted to know if I was going to help. I was debating. Do I really want to find the dog? Dan was saying things like, 'he won't come back', 'he'll get on the scent of something and be gone. ' I was thinking that might not be a bad thing....

I finally got in the car and drove up the street to the upper road. I found him by the mailbox of the neighbors. I got out with a piece of ham in my hand and said, "treat?". When he realized it was me, he cowered and tucked his tail. He knew he was in trouble. I just picked him up and drove back home. I didn't give him the ham... It was 2:00 am.

To sleep? perchance to dream?.. ay, there's the rub.