Page 6 of Waves
“Not really.”
“Okay, well, I don’t mind dropping you off, either.”
“I don’t think I’m getting home tonight without my coat.” With the sunlight fading so fast, I couldn’t stay long for pleasantries. I would be stranded unless I found my coat while enough light remained to search.
“Well, that sucks,” Ezra said, hanging the phone back on the wall. “Where will you stay?”
Ishmael wagged his tail while he stared up at Ezra. I mimicked his facial expression, and I looked at Ezra with a warm smile and soft eyes.
“Oh, no, you can’t stay here.” Ezra openly laughed while I chuckled along.
“I know. I’m only teasing.” Ishmael objected with a woof, and I gave him one more pat before I stood. “I think I will walk back now, and I’m sure I’ll figure something out once I get there. I’ll be fine.”
Ezra had that same look he did earlier, chewing his lip while he looked at me and then Ishmael. He caved remarkably fast. “Wait, just a minute,” he said with one hand under his chin and another waving in my direction. “You were out there for hours. Why don’t you shower and warm up first? I’m sure you haven’t eaten, either. We can have some dinner, and then I’ll drive you wherever, so you don’t have to walk in the dark.”
“Sure,” I agreed with a smile. I couldn’t shake my grin whenever looking at him.
Ezra smiled back, yet again establishing himself as the kindest human in existence (according to me... and likely Ishmael, as well). He walked down the hall, then pointed to the first door on the left. “Bathroom’s in there. I’m sure I can find you something else to wear. At the very least, you’ll be warmer on the way back.”
Ezra turned and continued down the hall. Ishmael trotted after him, then turned to look back at me, as if he wished to know if I were coming, too. A real joker, that dog.
My back faced the stove while I fiddled with my phone. As the saying went, a watched pot never boils. Usually, I wasn’t very capable in the kitchen, but I saw this recipe for vegan Alfredo sauce the other day and thought: This is idiot-proof. Even I can make this! So, I did, but since I was living the single life, I had way too much leftover for a single serving.
I was not that guy who recreated recipes he saw in Internet videos, then took a bunch of plate photos for his followers. I imagined he wore scarves and sipped an overpriced caffeinated beverage while chatting about the new installation at the MoMA. No offense to him, but he was not me.
I might not even own a scarf, and if I did, Ishmael would rip it to shreds for me. My opinion of coffee: it was pretty foul and would be the death of all of us—and don’t get me started about how the chains were killing our local cafe, which served some great tea blends and handmade pastries. Oh, and when it came to art, let’s just say I had other interests.
Overall, I was a painfully stereotypical bachelor who usually had a freezer full of frozen meals to get me through the week. Sometimes I indulged in a craft beer now and then, maybe even attended a social gathering if the mood struck. Most of the time, I sat at home and watched way too much porn while I enjoyed a life of involuntary celibacy.
You still alive? Mary’s message popped across the top of my screen.
Yeah, I quickly texted back. He’s taking a shower and then we’re going to eat.
Ooouuuuuu
Not like that
You still want me to call?
Give me like another 45
I slipped my phone back into my pocket before turning to the stove and added the pasta to the boiling water. I wasn’t even sure why I suggested Kai should stay when he offered to leave. Maybe something about those big brown eyes of his got to me, or I just had a thing for shivering strays.
When I first noticed my lease was pet-friendly, I went down to the shelter right away. Only to look, of course, which was what everyone says. Then, I spotted Ishmael tucked away in the farthest row of kennels, where he hunkered in the back of his cage. His sad eyes overflowed with confusion and betrayal when he stared back at me. I knew that look, and my heart melted.
The papers on his cage listed him as a repeat offender. Surrendered twice in under a year: once for barking and again for knocking over the family’s kids with his exuberant jumping. And now considered too big to be a puppy, even if that was what he was still. If the behavior issues weren’t enough, he also had a gorgeous, solid black coat (which somehow made him less adoptable). A dog like him wouldn’t stand out to most people and easily got overlooked. The last strike against his adoptability was, despite being advertised as a Labrador mix, some of his features suspiciously resembled a bully breed. All the odds were stacked against him, and this was his last chance before the big sleep.
Even while I stood in front of his kennel and looked at his papers, I knew I wasn’t ready for a dog. I expected to browse a few times and come back after I prepared my home like the planner I was. So, I kept walking. I simply was not taking a dog home, no matter how sweet or needy he was. Someone else would love him.
I passed nothing but families once I walked down the rows of cages, each one filled with another little soul hoping to be the chosen one. When I reached the help desk at the front, it occurred to me that none of those people still browsing would take home a large, problematic mutt. And there I was, an unmarried man with no children and nothing but time on my hands. So, before I made it to the exit, I turned around and marched right back to the desk to ask about him.
The big baby rolled over for a belly rub the minute he left his cage, and suddenly, I was signing the papers to take him home. When I finally made my way to the exit, Ishmael trotted alongside me while we left together. His head rested on my shoulder all the way home, and my best buddy hadn’t left my side since.
Though it seemed the honeymoon was over. Ishmael had been following Kai around the house since he set foot in here. Even now, Ishmael waited outside the bathroom, his tail swishing across the floor while he stared at the door. When Kai came out, Ishmael once again acted overjoyed, and I had to turn to hide a smile.
I really had to dig to find something even remotely suitable for him to wear from my limited wardrobe. Most of my clothes were for function only. The few fashionable outfits I owned were tailored to me because, well, I wanted to look good when I went out. For Kai, I settled on the baggiest, slouchiest joggers I owned and a threadbare, oversized t-shirt faded beyond recognition (which I stole long ago from a certain someone who would not be mentioned). I couldn’t believe I hesitated giving it to Kai at first because I should have tossed the damn thing ages ago. That part of my life ended so long ago and I had no reason to hang onto this last shred, especially once I felt sure it would be a perfect fit on Kai.
A small pile of toys formed in front of Kai while he waited on the couch, and he patted Ishmael each time he brought more and more over to him while wagging his tail. Ishmael appeared to be bringing his new idol offerings, or maybe building him a shrine of squeaky toys and rubber balls. I was just glad my rambunctious dog was behaving again.