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| << December24, 2006 - Hearts and Humor - Bonus Story - The Light |
January03, 2007 - Hearts and Humor - Nothing Was Missing >> |
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Hello and Happy New Years, my family. I have many comments posted below. When you tell me how you feel, I listen. Tonight is repeat night. This is one of my favorites. There as a little dog who came into my life. He didn't want me; I didn't want him, but we learned we knew we needed each other. I have a link for you to check before the story tonight. I decided to be silly one night. I'm sure many of you have seen his thing before, but this is me. Check it out. Don't I look good in tights? http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=c0567ebf7e4d133b5633174G06122714 Cody-Joe It was 1996, I took a new job in a different city. I moved first. My wife stayed behind with our two young children. They planned to join me when the house sold. I couldn't afford an apartment, so I rented a room in a couple's home and lived with them and their toy poodle - Cody-Joe. Bill and Liz quickly became a mom and dad to me. Cody-Joe was a challenge. He was shy and stayed in their room, when they weren't home. If they were home, he would stay away from me and bark whenever I walked in the door, including, when I came in at 1 AM, after working an evening shift. Cody-Joe was fond of tennis balls. He drove Bill crazy. All evening, Cody shoved the ball at Bill, sat back, and yapped for him to throw it. It went on all night, as Bill watched television. One night, I grabbed the ball, and threw it for him. Cody-Joe took off, brought it back, and dropped it by my feet. It was a breakthrough in our relationship. I threw the ball for more than thirty minutes. I grew tired of the game and stopped throwing the ball. Cody-Joe kept pushing it toward my feet, but I ignored him. He lost patience, grabbed his ball, ran up, and stuffed it between my thigh and the side of the chair. It was the first time he ever touched me. Cody-Joe continued his normal barking and shyness around me, but when I sat in that chair, he'd grab his ball and make me play. One night I was making a bologna sandwich for my lunch. I looked to my left, and there was Cody-Joe, peeking around the corner at me. I threw him a piece of meat. He walked toward it, not taking his eyes off me. When he thought it was safe, he grabbed the meat, and dashed away. It became a nightly thing. I was wearing him down with kindness and food. Liz had to go on a week-long business trip. Bill was working long hours and I was working a night shift. I'd be home alone with Cody-Joe. Liz asked, "Mike, could you take Cody for a walk in the early afternoon. He'll need to go to the bathroom. Bill won't be home until late." I agreed, but was skeptical. Would Cody-Joe allow me to walk him? The first morning, Cody-Joe stayed in Bill and Liz's bedroom. When it was time to take him for a walk, I called, "Cody!" He wouldn't come out. I called again. He stayed hidden. I waited awhile and called again. There was no sign of him. I grew concerned. Would he make a mess in their room. Their door was partially open to allow Cody-Joe to come and go as he pleased. I slowly open it, "Cody?" I got on my knees and looked under the bed. "Cody?" I heard a growl. Cody-Joe was hiding under the head of the bed. It was dark under there. Cody-Joe was black. I couldn't see him, but I heard his warning. "Cody, you come out here!" I said in a stern voice. There were more growls. I grew impatient, "Cody, get out here!" I yelled. I got an idea. I opened the door to the bedroom all the way, jumped on the bed and yelled, "Get out here!" There was a flash of black. Cody shot out from under the bed, across the floor, and into the hallway. He ran into the den and hid under a coffee table. I ran after him and slammed the bedroom door closed behind me. I got his leash and kneeled in front of him, "Cody, let's go for a walk. Cody, want to go for 'walkies'?" He bared his teeth and growled again. I left him where he was and went for Bologna. He growled and wouldn't accept my gift. I gave up and left him with the food for an hour. When I came back, the bologna was gone, but he was still hiding under the table. I got more. He ate it in front of me this time. I got more and while he ate, I clipped the leash to his collar. We had a wonderful walk. When we got home, he was a different dog. He followed me around, came into my room, jumped on my bed, and cuddled with me. He never realized he needed me. From that day on, Cody and I were pals. Cody-Joe was as sensitive as a small child. One night, I was playing a board game with Bill and Liz. I got up, turned the corner into the hall, and there was Cody with something sticking from his mouth. It looked like a cigar. I checked. It was the bone from a drumstick I'd thrown in my trash earlier that day. I rushed to my room. My trashcan was on its side, and everything inside was spilled on the floor. "Cody-Joe! You stinker!" I scolded. He ran to the kitchen. When I got there, Cody-Joe was in Liz's arms and wouldn't look atme. Bill, Liz and I continued our game. Every so often Cody looked at me. "Don't look at me! I'm mad at you." He quickly bury his face in Liz's arms. I was in my room the next day. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cody peering around the corner. "Don't come in here!" I growled. "I'm still mad at you." It went on for days. He sulked around the house. I wouldn't speak to him. It was obvious, he was hurting. I couldn't take it anymore. "Cody, come here, boy." I said. He ran to me, leaped at my legs, and wagged his stubby tail. We were buddies again. A year later my house sold, and my family and I found a place of our own. Soon after, we moved to another city. When we made a visit to Bill and Liz two years later, Cody-Joe ran around my feet, barking and whining. My heart swelled. He remembered me. Cody is 14 now, going deaf and takes pills for his heart every day. He still drives people crazy with his ball, but he has to stop. He wants to keep playing, but because of his heart, he starts coughing and can't continue. Even though Cody is old and ailing, he can still be a pain. He has an internal clock, which doesn't allow him to nap for more than hour. After that, he beats on the side of the bed or the couch, until Liz can't stand it any longer and has to get up. He does the same to Bill. We are all going to miss him when he's gone. When Cody and I met, he didn't know he needed a playmate. I was away from my family and didn't know I needed someone to love. We came together. We both needed someone. Thank you, Cody. You made many lonely days bearable. Michael T. Smith You can read more of my stories and sign up for my twice-weekly posts at http://archives.zinester.com/86758/ Feel free to share my stories. I only ask you to leave the link for others to join our family. If you wish to send me a comment, please email me at mtsmith@qwestonline.com. Now for some comments from my mailbox. Hope u have a very very very very MERRY CHRISTMAS !!! may the Lord bless u in all possible ways this Christmas !!! Have a holly jolly Christmas !!! Berry Christmas !!! Merry Christmas !!! Music Rocks !!!! Steph **************** Thank-You for your story "The Light" I needed that to day~~ feeling lost today~~ some may think it is silly but to me it means a lot~~ This is the last Sunday that I could have worked at the store I have been working for 14 years~~it is closing~~ and I didn't get to work today~~ I have three days next week~~ total of 15 hours and my working days are over for the store!! As you call us your family those people are my family~~ yes some I will be able to see on and off~~ but the rest will have to live on in my memory~~ and it just hit me very sad!! Thanks again for your stories I really enjoy reading them!! Have a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!! With Love Jane ******************* Hi Mike: Great story! Flashlights were always fun when we were young beside being very helpful. Yes, God is good! Bless you and your precious Ginny and your family! Love and hugs, Nancy ******************* Mike, That was beautiful. I am sure all of us in one way or another know about the loss of someone special. My favorite aunt (Sharon)died 6 years ago unexpectedly. It is hard knowing he will never visit her or spend summers with her and Uncle John the way I did, she won't teach him about God or take him to church. It is hard, but we try to enjoy and celebrate Christmas just like before, it was her favorite holiday. One we almost always spent together. She and Uncle John used to read the Christmas story to us (kids) while we waited for Santa to come. They were my example of what marriage should be...I grew up hoping I would have what they had. When my son was about a year and a half old, I was showing him pictures there was one of Aunt Sharon and Uncle John, he said I know her, she held me before. I was floored by that innocent statement because she died one month before he was born. But I believe him, I believe she is his guardian angel looking out for him every day. Thanks for sharing your story. It brought back special times and painful memories too. Love, Patty ****************** MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, MICHAEL AND GINNY. I'm wrapping gifts for our little ones, grandchildren, great grandchildren nieces and nephews.Ours are receiving Tonka firetrucks this year without the sirens and flashing lights to use in the sandbox plus a spring horse and a wagon. These are old fashioned toys compared to the electronic things of today but provide fun and imagination for years to come though they're plastic now instead of all metal. Thanks for sharing your stories with us. Vel ****************** To Unsubscribe go to: http://www.zinester.com/cgi/unsub.cgi?86758&0& http://www.zinester.com/cgi/unsub.cgi?86758&0& |
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