Dawn run (boy with dog story) (530 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 1.31 on 12 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Tj Wilk <no_blank_spaces.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2007-12-05 18:50:17 EST
It is about 6:20 and I wake up. I lie in bed for a few minutes and convince myself to get up. Once I have my shirt, shorts and socks on I have started something I can't stop for myself. Tiptoeing through my bedroom door, down the carpeted stairs and into the kitchen. My eyes adjust to the difference in lighting. It is very dark down; here the house hides the sun. I still think it's pleasant though.
A quick but much needed toilet stop later and I am at the back door. The cold key feels foreign in my hand. It fits the lock perfectly though, and moments later I am greeted by a wave of cold air. The screen door is to follow; it opens with a reluctant squeak. There are no barriers between the morning and myself now. Hesitantly I step out onto the veranda and try to find my sneakers in the dark. A familiar sound of padded feet on stone creeps into my ears. The leaves of pot plants wave as a furry tail wags through them. My dog greets me with many yawns and licks. I take a moment to greet this early riser.
With my shoes on I look around the backyard. It is still pretty dark. My dog rubs his nose against my bare legs.
Very well.
Grabbing the dog leash from the table I wave it in his face. Shuffling excitedly he runs back and forward then follows me as I walk down the side of the house. Light slowly meets us as we come to the front of the house. I do some inefficient stretches as my dog runs to the gate. He wags his tail impatiently, looks outside and then looks at me. I sigh and run forward, dodging the leaves on the grass. They weren't there yesterday.
We are out. The pavement falls under my heavy footsteps. I am running slowly now, letting my muscles awaken. The dog keeps his distance, smelling everything as if it is all-new to him. I smile, call for him and run on. We have gone as far as the park now. There are people on the running trails trying to burn off extra kilojoules or attempting to meet someone else. Anyone. I run left and skid down the steep slope of a creek. The dog gleefully charges after. At the bottom I crouch low and feel the smooth rocks beneath me with my open hands. From this angle it feels like I am on a private running track, high creek walls run along either side, a grand canyon for the ants. The dog is puzzled by my behaviour but decides to explore further down the creek. I take a deep breath through my nostrils. The smell brings memories, but I can't pin down events, only images. I desperately inhale more but each time it fades a little more, till I find myself breathing in normally. Not letting it bother me at all I stand up and sprint down the track. The dog sees me and leaps into action, running alongside me.
Roots, large rocks and depressions in the earth do little to stop us, we run. I liken myself to the water, flowing down the creek over all the holes, shaping the stones beneath me. Finally I am beaten. Too preoccupied by my imagination I trip over a large root. Why didn't I notice it? Roughly I land against the cold rocks. I hold my bruised knee with two hands and cringe. The dog stops somewhere ahead panting. I guess he won. But then again he has four legs. Taking my fall as an invitation to look around he trudges off, but not out of view.
The pain fades but I remain. Time passes on. I am staring up at the sky. The clouds are passing so slowly. If I stare I can see their movements, slow in parts, but then my eyes grow accustomed and the world shifts above me like a sea. The cold stones beneath me comfort me. I hear a squawk and a large crow appears on the creeks ridge. It really is very large. Maybe it is sizeing me up as prey. I smile. I think there is definitely something spiritual about birds. Seeing the world from above has something to do with it. Much wisdom is granted by the wind, the sky. Flying is a very special gift. But can the crow run with my dog and I? The image of the crow chasing after us with a top hat and a black waistcoat comes to my mind. I laugh. The old bird labours after us like a heavy smoker, squawking, no doubt cursing our abilities. But then he is flying, far up high. And we are the jealous ones. Staring in admiration of something out of reach. The bird considers me with its eyes. I feel a connection between us and he lets off his characteristic cry. I could watch this character all day.
The dog snatches me from my thoughts with an excited lick across the face. I look at him with curiosity and he sits down and gives me his classic smile. There is definitely something spiritual happening here. I look back to the crow to get his opinion of the matters but he is gone. Up into the morning sky. Lucky creature. Reluctantly I get up and run down the creek with my dog. Like a flash flood we flow down the weathered natural pathway. Isolated from humanity, in our own private land. I imagine myself as a primitive cave man with my wolf. We are linked by the soul. We are on the hunt. The morning sun reveals the truth, just a boy and his companion. I laugh and we keep running, maybe if we go faster the morning will last longer. I take a deep breath through my nostrils, pursuing that lost scent.
Far off, high above, the crow shapes the air around his wings. He soars higher and higher looking below at the land he controls. Above him are the unattainable clouds. He looks with deep interest into their changing depths. The greatest things in life are the mysterious.
User Reviews
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2007-12-07 00:25:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Well.
From the title I was certainly expecting a very different type of story.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-12-07 00:02:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by triangle_man (user info) at 2007-12-06 15:59:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
refreshing
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-12-06 09:01:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-12-06 08:28:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by woolfe (user info) at 2007-12-06 06:36:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by TheDoctor (user info) at 2007-12-06 04:38:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2007-12-06 03:50:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by monkeyswithguns (user info) at 2007-12-05 21:29:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
1 billion shades of awesome.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-12-05 20:44:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
.
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-12-05 20:44:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Doodles (user info) at 2007-12-05 19:04:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
To be honest I was bored by the time you opened the door. It seemed choppy and strained. It didn't seem to go anywhere. Nor have a clear ending. Kind of like this review.
Tell you what, keep it to one post tonight and I'll leave it at a 1.