Dog

At one time Dog was her friend
His loyalty and friendship were unquestionable
He guarded the gates of her house with pride
She found solace in this beast
This is how things began

She would show him off as her companion
Feed him well take him out on long runs
Dog was grateful
Her friends were less than enthusiastic
They were quick to point out his size his ferocious snarl
What if he were to turn on her alone in her house?
She smiled
There was nothing to fear

One day because of some troubled magic in the air she kicked him
He had been minding his own business when she summoned him and without warning rammed her boot into his chest
Dog immediately bared his teeth this was unacceptable
She quickly recovered from her spell and stroked his back fed him calmed him down
Dog smiled to himself Dog remembered
There began to form a habit it would be random
He would be kicked for associating with anyone else that might take him away from her
He would be kicked for simply being Dog
She would alternate her violence with good cuts of meat and dessert
Over the years he would wonder what if anything he had done on this first occasion of many

As time passed she reminded him of all his pleasures
As long as he stayed faithful and loyal to her
Dog wondered of things would ever be the way they once were
With this weight a sadness grew
He one day realised that the lady had skilfully learned to taunt Dog to make him bear his teeth
She had managed to amuse herself carelessly by confusing and angering him
As his tolerance grew so did her kicking
Dog would do his best to defend himself
He was the stronger of the two and in her moments of lucidity the lady would realise this
But secretly he wondered if things would ever be the way they once were
He began to realise that the lady had become more and more contemptuous
More eager to provoke him
Dog began to look in the mirror more and see how he was growing older and more tired from her beating
She alternated her vitriol and praise
This was her most private of strategies
But we now that over time even the darkest corner of a box reveals itself
More and more this felt like fat
If he could he would have bitten it off and spit it out

Recently the lady kicked him
This abuse lasted for hours
She kicked him in the teeth and everywhere else she could find before she became tired
Dog took it without too much complaint
She was no as lucid as he had hoped and he did not try too much to stop her
She kicked him when he was down
Eventually he had to push her away and retreat
Then a few hours later she came to him smiling
She had run and gotten him a big steak and many desserts
This was not unusual
It was how she had over the years won back some semblance of closeness with him
Dog had known this for a long time
It didn't work
The world stopped for a brief moment

She had began looking for a new companion
He could smell that she was looking an every corner she could find and every crowd she could invent
She made exclamations about his bared teeth about how frail she was
Yes she was looking for a new dog
One with the kind of vigour that he had shown her when she and first purchased him
Dog silently started heading my way

The secret magic was in the air when Dog arrived
He and I knew what had to be done
I slit his throat and he succumbed
He bled to death gracefully and without effort
In the stillness I carved him into small morsels
And fed him to God
Abraham wept