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Back Porch
13
“Henry took it right hard. He said it ain’t right for a man to outlive his young. And I tend to agree. Well, Molly stayed right by his side for a solid week, even though he didn’t pay her no mind.
“Then, about a month later, he just snapped out of it and started livin’ again. Him and Molly got back to huntin’ squirrels and diggin’ in the garden. It looked like the man was gonna have a little peace after all. “But a while back, Molly took sick. She commenced to coughin’ and just seemed kinda tired all the time. Henry took her to see Doc Reeves at the animal hospital.
“‘Heartworms,’ Doc said. Henry asked how to fix her up, but Doc said she was too far gone. ‘Better to just put her down,’ he said.
“Henry said he’d give it some thought. He took Molly home ‘n treated her like a little doggy queen. He let her eat right off the table, gave her some ice cream, bathed her real good ‘n brushed her shiny black fur for hours. But in a couple a days, Henry had to face the cold truth. His molly was hurtin’.
“Henry called me up ‘n we talked about it. ‘Dyin’ of heartworms is a just plain nasty way to go,’ I told him. ‘You’d be doin’ her a kindness to let the vet put her down,’ I said.
“‘I got some things to do,’ he told me. My friend spent the next couple a days buildin’ a little coffin for Molly. He picked a real nice place to bury her out behind his house. He started diggin’ ‘n Molly helped him.
“When Henry felt like he had everythin’ ready, he took Molly back to the vet. He stayed right with her, pettin’ her ‘ talkin’ her through it. He told me he felt his heart snap clean in two when she licked his hand ‘n them big brown eyes looked up at him for the last time.”
Angie dropped her pencil and turned her purse on its side, looking for a tissue. Her throat hurt from sobs held captive, but renegade tears left a trail through her makeup.
“Henry was alone for the first time in his life. Completely alone. He died just a few days later. I think he just got tired of tryin’. It’s hard for a man to have to live all alone. I know. Henry was my last livin’ friend. Now he’s gone, too.”
Buford reached over and patted Angie on the shoulder. “Miss Day, I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t a told you all that. I sure didn’t mean to upset you.”
Angie smiled through her sniffles. “That’s okay, Mr. Cook. That’s the best story I’ve heard in a long time. It’s rare to find a person who values friendship as much as you do.”
She stood to shake the old man’s hand. “I’m honored to have met you, sir. And I’d like to visit with you again sometime.”
“Well how long a story you runnin’ on me, Miss Day?”
“Not for the paper, Mr. Cook. Just for a friendly visit.”
“Why, I’d like that just fine, Miss Day. I’ll be lookin’ forward to it.”
Angie waved good-bye as she pulled back onto Roller Rink Road. She knew she should go to the office and pull her notes together. But she had a driving need to see her husband and hold him close. To delight in the sweetness of her own best friend.
She wiped her eyes and glanced in the rear view mirror. “Angie, it must be spring. I feel a bloom coming on.”
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