I was going through an old box of junk the other day. A little unexpected trip through my cob webbed memories. If you ever stumble upon an old checkbook register I highly recommend grabbing a cup of tea and enjoy the read. It can be very telling. A glimpse into the spending habits of your past. What were you into at the time? Where were you going? Why did you spend $47.82 at a fruit stand in Gilroy? I also found a power cord to an electric blanket, now that's an invention, half a dozen small bottles of Tabasco sauce, I've since discovered Tapatio, and an old dog collar. The collar inspired me.
I had a creative writing assignment in college 18 or so years ago. I do not remember the nature of the assignment, but I do have the paper. I have gotten rid of most things that remind me of my past, for some reason the collar and the paper are two things that I have kept. As I place the collar on my mantle, I share my story with you.
We walked out of the grocery store, our arms wrapped around bags filled with the necessities of a spaghetti dinner for two. It was the beginning of our second date which was suppose to include dinner at my place and possibly a late movie. While opening Kelli's door, after placing the bags in the trunk and commenting on the cute dog in the front seat of the Mercedes next to us, I heard the familiar sound of breaking glass.
Turning towards the noise, I spotted a small crowd gathering around the center of the intersection, and a red truck speeding away. Some of the onlookers seemed panicked, others calm, but they all had a look of surprise and concern on their faces.
I tossed my keys to Kelli and yelled, "Bring the car!", as I sprinted towards the group.
Joining the crowd, it took only seconds to understand what had caused the varied expressions. Starring down at the familiar dog, something inside me seemed to tear. The dog was not just any dog, it was a dog that had been part of my life for quite some time. The dog use to hang around the Chevron gas station in town, my friends and I had always called her the "Chevron dog". Everyone in town, at one time or another, had to drive around her to fill their car with gas. She would walk around the station as if she owned it, head held high, not moving for anyone. a calm anger surged through my body as I thought of the events that had happened only seconds before.
I dropped to my knees to check for signs of life. Her eyes were glassed over, and blood was dripping from the corner of her mouth. It was obvious she was having a hard time breathing, but at least she was still alive.
Removing my jacket to place on the cold scared dog I felt a hand on my shoulder, "I parked your car as close as..."
"Call the humane society!", I blurted.
A well-dressed woman with a slight British accent spike softly, "I did... They said that they would rush but, they probably couldn't make it for upwards to an hour. If we could only get her to a veterinary hospital... maybe..."
I turned to Kelli but she was already on her way to the pay phone. She knew I was going to ask her to find an open animal hospital. This is not an easy task at seven-thirty at night in this rural town called Poulsbo.
Most of the crowd had thought it was a person that had been hit by the truck. When they realized it was a dog, the left; for the most part unconcerned. Only those of us that gave a damn stayed.
A a young man, sixteen or seventeen, directed traffic around the dying dog, a grey van pulled up alongside of us. A tall, slender man stepped out. "I'm a medic!", he said as he rushed to us, "did someone call an ambulance yet?"
"It's a dog.", I replied.
"Oh I thought it was a child. Did someone call a vet?"
"We're working on it. Can you help her at all?"
His forehead wrinkled as he squatted. Placing his hands around the abdomen of the animal, he proceeded to tell me that the dog was bleeding internally, and wasn't going to last much longer unless we get her to a vet. "She's in shock.", he mumbled. "Does anyone have a truck?"
A couple standing next to the well-dressed woman offered their truck. The man went to back his truck up to the dog, the lady exchanged a few words with the well-dressed woman, and the medic was trying to show me how to put pressure on the dogs chest so that the blood would not fill up her lungs and drown her.
Kelli came back with the directions to an open animal hospital written on a napkin, just as the truck arrived. I explained, to Kelli, that I had to go with the dog, in the back of the truck, to keep pressure on her chest. She said she understood and would follow us there in my car.
It took three of us to lift the dog into the back of the truck. I began squeezing the dogs chest as we sped to the hospital. The dogs breathing began to slow the closer we got to the vet. All I could do was squeeze and beg the dog not to die in my arms. Tears ran down my cheek as the blood ran out of the corner of her jowls. I found myself yelling at the dog, "Breathe god damn it... Breathe. Don't die.... Good girl, just breathe." The wind whipped my hair, stinging my face as cramps in my arm stretched past my elbows.
After the hellish twenty-minute truck ride, we finally reached the hospital. To every one's surprise, the dog was still breathing. The woman jumped out of the front of the truck and ran to the front of the building. The door was locked. She knocked, banged and yelled until someone came out.
"Yes, can I help you?"
The woman began to explain to the nurse, that we had a dog that had been hit by a car and was going to die soon unless we get some help. The nurse started to ask questions and I lost it, "Get someone out here that can help this damn dog, quit asking bullshit questions!!". I paused for a breath, "Please..."
To my surprise a different nurse and doctor came running out with a stretcher, they took the dog inside. The couple followed them.
As I was getting out of the back of the truck, stretching my arms, two cars pulled up, each with familiar faces. I was surprised that some of the people cared enough about this dog to disrupt their lives and check its condition. Each person asked questions, I walked away.
Inside I washed the drying blood off of my forearms and poured myself a cup of 'complimentary coffee'. The receptionist was asking the couple with the truck questions. They seemed to know as much about the dog as I did. The lady with the accent was trying to contact the owner of the dog by calling the gas station.
I walked outside and lit a cigarette as Kelli drove up in my car. She walked towards me, "Is she going to make it?"
"I don't know, we just got here... I kinda want to be alone... If you don't mind."
She understood, and walked inside. The thoughts that were running through my mind were so unusual to me, I've never been in this situation before, this close to death I mean.
The lady with the accident walked up to me and put her hand on my shoulder, "The doctor said that she in real, bad shape.. for them to operate it would cost over a thousand dollars. They can't promise anything." She rubbed my shoulder, "We are still trying to get in touch with Walt, (the owner of the dog) they can't do anything until they contact him.
"Thank you... I'm sorry I'm being so emotional, but, I just..." A tear rolled down my cheek.
"Shh", she hugged me, "We know. You've done all you can. Most people wouldn't of even stopped. We will be inside, come in when you're ready."
"Thanks..."
Moments later Kelli came out and grabbed my hand.
"What?"
"They called the owner."
"And?"
"He said it was too expensive. They are going to put her to sleep"
"What? Shit..." I lowered my head in thought. "I'll pay for it." I let go of Kelli's hand. "I'll pay for it..." I said again as I ran into the hospital, leaving Kelli with the strangest look on her face.
"I'll pay for it!", I yelled when I saw the nurse. Everyone gave me strange looks, "I'll pay for the operation."
"I'm sorry. The doctor has already started the procedure."
The anger I had been feeling throughout this whole ordeal seemed to double, "What!!!"
The lady with the accent grabbed me, "It's for the best dear. Come, I'll take you outside."
"No. No, I would like to see her before I go."
The nurse escorted me into the operating room, then left. I looked down at the lifeless dog on the steel table. The concept of death had finally dawned on me. I ran my fingers through her hair, my tears dripped onto the steel table, sounding like a dead penny thrown into an ashtray.
The doctor walked in and apologized for putting her down before I knew about it. I told him that it was all right. On my way out he handed me the dogs collar. "You'll know what to do with these." I walked to my car.
Everyone had left. Kelli was waiting for me in my car. Getting in I threw the dog collar in the glove box and turned off the radio. We drove home in silence.
I've seen Kelli only a few time after this date. She was nice and all, it's just that she saw part of me very few people have seen. I guess I'm a little embarrassed about acting like that over a dog I hardly knew.
Looking back on the evening, the thing I remember the clearest is the people. We all had one thing in common and it brought us together for an hour or so. We were so impersonal at the time, yet we felt incredibly comfortable together. I'll never forget the way we worked as a team, even if it was in vain. I learned a lot that night. There are some good people out there, they just show up at strange times, under odd circumstances.
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