by claire petrie
My darling Mishka
It is three years ago since you left me and I still long for you. I remember so many sweet and silly things you used to do. When you growled into your water bowl. The time I bought a down jacket and it frightened you and you barked at it. When you lived next door, before you were my dog, and was left outside all the time, I used to reach over the fence to pet you, and youd be po-go dog, jumping up and down on your hind legs. I remember that night I was in the bathroom getting ready for bed and you woofed at me beneath my window, and I knew immediately that you were thirsty and needed water and I brought you some over the fence (they left you out there to drink from mud puddles and, when theyd remember to feed you, theyd throw you dog food in a bag from a window.) Remember when you had too much air and Id press down on your tummy and youd give a huge grown? You used to play by yourself with a toy, tossing it, then racing around and threatening it with growls, you were so lonely. All that changed when they gave you to me and you became an inside dog. After sharing dinner with me you had to go out on the deck and proclaim to all the other dogs in their backyards what a wonderful meal youd just had. You the most intuitive dog Ive ever known, and I miss you and I will keep longing for you till the end of time.