Hank’s Story.

Gil was really beginning to feel his age over the last few years.   That along with feeling somewhat lonely.   He and Lady Heather had a falling out and he just had not been the same since.   His bed was cold and lonely.  He missed her but let too much time go by and figured she would slam the door in his face should he have the guts to visit her.

He rolled over in his white bedroom and hugged the pillow tight.  There was no sense in trying to sleep, it wasn’t going to happen this morning.  Maybe he could catch a few winks before the shift started at eleven that night.   Right now there was just no way.   He got up and headed to the kitchen.  He opened the refrig and just stood there.  Nothing interested him, since there was little to chose from.  He started talking to himself.   “Maybe a trip to the grocery store would be a good idea.  Food’s not gonna walk it’s way here.”   He started going thru the cabinets checking and seeing what he needed.  He headed back up the stairs to get dressed.  He added toilet paper to the lis when he ran out in the middle of a good book.    “That will teach me.”, as he reached for some tissues.

He grabbed the keys and headed out the door to the local store.  This time of the day it was almost empty.  He decided to go up and down the aisle rather then just getting what was on the list.  Maybe SOMETHING would spark his interest to make.    He saw several cuts of meat and fish and threw them into the cart.  He tossed in fresh fruits and vegetables along with some of his secret downfall, ‘Cherry Garcia’ ice cream.   He made a mental note to stop at ‘Krispi Kreme’ on the way home too.  He knew what those foods did to his waist line, but right now he needed comfort food.

After loading up the SUV and heading back to his townhouse, he saw a sign in front of the local Humane Society asking for old newspapers, food, and toys for the animals that were housed there.     Gil remembered he had a pile of newspaper he didn’t get out to the recycle bin that week and hated the idea of them sitting there for another two weeks in the garage.    He put away all the groceries and headed back into the garage and loaded up the SUV with the papers.  He headed back to the shelter.

One of the staff saw him coming and opened the door for him.  “Hi !  It’s been a while since we’ve seen you Doctor Grissom.”   The perky blonde pony tailed girl named Deb smiled at him.  “You look lost.  You okay?”

“Yeah, just tired I guess.  How are things going here?”

“Well, you know, never enough…..food, papers, money, people to adopt.  I wish we could sort of go out of business. …that is if people would get their pets fixed like they promised, and stop throwing animals out like they were yesterday’s newspaper.   We got a few in this morning, found on the side of the road just sitting there. “ she shook her head.  She held the inner door open so Gil could bring the papers into the cage area where they were to be used.   “Here’s fine.  Thanks.  Like to stay a while and play with a few while I clean out the cages?”   Gil looked at his watch and nodded.  Not like he was going anywhere …or was going to sleep.   “Great, I’ll start down this end.”  She walked him down to the smallest dogs sitting up eye level.  “You can open the cage from that side and I’ll yell when you can put them back.  Take three or four of them.”

Gil opened the cages from the front and placed the puppies on the floor.  Some of them just sat down and looked up at him.  “Well, play.  Do something.”  He just looked down at them.  He took a few steps and they followed him.  He took a few more and the puppies had to run to keep up with him.  Gil chuckled at the way they were sliding on the waxed floor.    He found a ball and tossed in down the hallway and let out a laugh when they all ran after it and slid right past the ball.   The looks on their faces when the ball passed them going in the opposite direction after bouncing off the wall  made Gil realize he was missing out on having a little friend.

“Fun aren’t they?”   Gil heard the voice from behind the cages.  “Okay you can put them back and get the one underneath.”    He just nodded and picked the puppies up one at a time and gave them each a tummy rub as he put them back in the cage and closed the door.

“I’m beginning to feel like they do.  Caged and no where to go.  Hoping someone will do something with me.”  Gil blinked a few times realizing he said his thoughts out loud.

“Feeling a bit lonely are we?”

“Yeah, you know every once in a while it hits you.”  He looked sheepishly at  Deb  on the other side.  “My crazy hours of work, hard to find someone to have dinner with at eight in the morning.”   He opened the bottom  cage.  “Whoa, this isn’t a puppy, he’s a  horse.”   He heard a chuckle from the other side.

“Yeah and he put out some winners.  Good Lord!  I’m going to change the name on that one to Stinky Pete.   Gods he can put some crap out for a little fella.”

“He’s NOT little.  What kind of dog is he?”

“Boxer mixed with a pitbull, maybe a bit of St Bernard.  I don’t think he’s going to get adopted too easy.  Size and well….look at that face.”

Gil opened the cage more and the puppy just sat there.  “Come on boy.  It is a boy isn’t it?”

“Are you blind?  Look at his….”

“Whoa.  Yeah, make your father proud.  Wow.  Come on boy.”  Nothing happened.
“Typical male.  All balls and no brains.”

“Ouch!”

“Sorry about that.  But all the men I meet are like that.”

“Well not all of us.”

“So….which are you brainy or…..”  She roared with laughter when Gil blushed.   “Play with him.  I got shit to do.”

“Come on boy.”  Gil reached in and gently pulled him out by the collar.  The brown, black and white puppy sat there and looked up at Gil with a tilted head.   “I do that too when I’m thinking.”   Then the puppy’s tongue came out.  “That too.”   Gil walked down and got the ball and tossed it to him.    The puppy watched as it rolled by.  “Not too bright are we?”  He heard a whine.  “Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean too hurt your feelings.”   He realized he was talking to the dog.  Again he heard laughter from the other side.  “Oh you are enjoying this aren’t you?

“Yeah.  Why don’t you take him outside?  There’s a lead hanging on the side of the door.”  She pointed towards the outside  door.   “Maybe he can dump out there.”

Gil walked and got the lead and came back.  The dog watched Gil the whole time Gil  was leashing him  up.  Gil stood and started to walk towards the door.  He came to a dead stop  he was pulling dead weight.  “Come on!”

Nothing.

“Are you that dumb?  Come. “

Nothing.

“Maybe he’s waiting for his name.”

“What is it?”

“We haven’t given him one yet.  He just came in this morning.  Found him sitting with two others.  They didn’t make it, starved to death.  Broke my heart.  He’s doing great after we fed him.  And by the looks of it making up lost time in the shit department.”

“Come boy.”

Nothing.

“Start with the A’s and work your way thru the alphabet.”

“Adam.  No.  Buster?  No.  Chuck?  Damon, Eddie, err Frank?  Greg?  No.  Hank?”

The puppy got up and came over to Gil and sat down at his feet.   “HANK?”  Gil heard a yip coming from the guts of the dog.  “Okay, Hank it is.”   He turned and opened the door and headed outside with the puppy  in tow.

They played for over an  hour before Gil realized it.  Deb had  finished cleaning all the cages without him playing with the other puppies.   She was standing in the doorway watching.  He whistled and the puppy came running.  Gil headed back to the door and the puppy sat on the ground.  He wasn’t going back in.  He knew if he did, that was it.  He was going to lose this human.

“Come on Hank.”  Gil patted his leg.  “Come on…gotta go.  I need to go home and get some sleep.”

Nothing.

Finally Gil walked over and picked him up.  “Whoa., you are going to be a killer aren’t ya Buddy.”   He placed him back in the cage and the puppy turned his back and leaned into the corner. Gil swore he heard a sigh coming from Hank.    “Oh now don’t do that.”   He heard laughter coming from behind him.  “That’s NOT fair.”

“What?   I didn’t do a thing.”  A not so innocent look was on Deb’s face.  “YOU did it to yourself.  You KNOW he’s YOUR dog.”

“I CAN’T have a dog.  I work double shifts and it’s not fair that he’d be home all day…..by himself.   Not to mention he’d pee and dump all over the place.  No. NO!”

“We have several doggy daycare places.  Teaches them social skills and ….”

“NO! NO! NO!”

“Unconditional love and companionship.   Weren’t   you just saying how you wanted some?”

“Yeah but…”

“Great way to meet ladies.”  She spun the leash around in her hands.  “Walks in the park, charity socials to raise money for US.  Mmm…”

“No.”

“Okay, YOU tell him he’s not wanted.  Go on.  Bend down and tell him.”   She stood there with hands on hips.   Gil learned from Catherine Willows that when a woman does that pose, it’s easier just to do what they want.

“Okay.”   Gil bent down to the cage and spoke.  “Sorry Hank but no.”   Then stood up.  “There see?”

“That sucked.  Open the cage and look him in the eye and say it.”

Gil just sighed and bent back down.  “Hank….Hank….turn around and look at me.   HANK!. “   Gil reached in and felt the puppy moving away from him.   “Oh now don’t do this.  Come on. “    He found himself on his knees with his head inside the cage.  “Hank.”   He watched as the puppy shifted on his feet.  “Oh for Pete’s sake.”
Gil closed the door and went around to the other side, only to find out that Hank had walked to the freshly closed door and now had his back to Gil on the other side.  “Why you little…..”    A peal of laughter came from the young lady.   “NOT ONE WORD!    Hank.  Turn around.”

Nothing.

“Okay, I’m coming back around.”  He got up and walked back to the main aisle.  He didn’t realize he left the cage door on the other side open.   Gil bent down to talk to Hank and realized he was gone.  “HANK?  Where did you go? HANK!”

“Look down.”

Gil did and found Hank sitting right beside him looking into the cage.

“I’m cooked.”

“Sure are.   Sign the papers.”   Gil just sighed.  “Here’s the doggy day care phone numbers and certificate to get him fixed,   can you get him ‘Puppy Chow’?  I’m out of it.   And I would suggest a shoulder harness lead.  He’s going to be a strong one.”  She bent down and rubbed Hank’s head.   “Did good boy.”

“You planned this didn’t you?”

“Yeah.  God sends angels down in strange shapes.  Just finding the person that needs one is the trick.  Do come back and visit once in a while.  Bye Hank!”

“Woof.”

“So NOW you speak?  Come on boy, I got to stop at the store again.  ‘PetSmart’ or the grocery store?”

“Woolf woolf.”

“‘PetSmart’ it is.  Hop in.”  Gil opened the passenger’s side of the SUV.   It was over the puppy’s head.  “Go on.  You can do it.”   A whine came out.  “Oh  no, I’m NOT going to pamper you.  UP!”

Whine.

Gil just closed his eyes and picked the puppy  up and set him in the front seat and closed the door.  He mumbled the whole way around the car.  He opened the driver’s door and found Hank sitting in the seat looking at him.  “Move, unless you are driving.”

Nothing.

Gil just pointed,  Hank tilted his head.  “Oh don’t give me that.  MOVE.”  Hank put his head on his paws.  “Oh great now I hurt your feelings.  PLEASE.”  Hank stood up and walked to the passenger’s side.  “Oh gods am I in for it now.”

***************

After coming out of the store and hearing a howling coming from his SUV, Gil realized this was the first time the puppy was completely alone.  “Oh Buddy, sorry about that.  But you better get used to it.  I’m not going to be around ALL the time.  I work a lot of doubles.”   Gil pulled out a lead and a nice bed and was showing Hank what he brought.  “OH FOR PETE’S SAKE.’

Once they were home Gil put out a bowl of water and some food which Hank ate in a hurry.  “Slow down Buddy, there’s more.  I’m not going to starve you.”    Gil looked around trying to figure out where to put the bed and figured why not up in his bedroom?  He wasn’t going to let him sleep in his bed….that’s for sure.

Right.

*****************

He took Hank out for a walk and rubbed his head when he took a pee and a dump.  Gil picked up the mess with a ‘Pooper Scooper’ and headed back home.  “Time for bed Hank.  I got a few hours before work.  Come on.”   He headed up the stairs and Hank sat at the bottom of the open staircase.  “Hank?”

Whine.

“Oh come on.  You can make the stairs.  Come on.”

Nothing.

Gil swore he heard Deb laughing as he came back down he stairs and picked Hank up and carried him.  “You ARE going to learn to go up and down.  I’m NOT going to lift a hundred pounds of dog everyday.”     He left Hank into his nice new bed and turned off the lights.

Gil felt something warm on his hand hanging over the side of the bed.  Then he heard snoring.  He had to stop and think for a second and remembered he had a puppy now.  Once he moved his hand from over the side of the bed, the snoring stopped but the whining started.  “No, you have your own bed.  Go lay down in it.”  Gil fell back to sleep with whining in his ears.   His alarm went off and Gil turned on the light and saw snow.  White feathers and little tiny styrofoam beads where everywhere.  Hank was sitting in what was left of his bed covered in the static filled mess.  Gil just covered his face and laughed.   “Well Ollie, here’s another fine mess you got me into.”   Gil got up and not bothering to get dress, pulled out the vacuum from the hall closet.   Once he turned it on he saw Hank running for the hills.  “NO!  Sit !    Shit.”  A trail of beads led down the hallway.  Once he got to the stairs Hank stopped cold.  “Good stay there.”   Hank was howling the whole time Gil vacuumed his bedroom.  Once finished he started the hall way, working his way towards the frightened puppy.  The closer Gil came with that noisy machine the more Hank howled.  Gil finally got to him and started vacuuming the shaking fellow.  The beads came off as Gil rubbed him.  Hank liked that part but that mean nosie machine, no.   “It’s okay Buddy, it’s not gonna hurt ya.  I won’t let it.”   Once finished Gil looked down at him.   “How about breakfast and out while I take a shower?”  Hank just looked up at him.  “Works?”   Gil picked him up and carried him down the stairs.

“Okay you eat while I shower.”  Hank didn’t hear him, he was too interested in the food.  Gil had left the back door opened to the fenced in yard so that MAYBE Hank would get the idea.    After getting dressed Gil came down to an empty kitchen.  “HANK?”  He looked outside just in time to see him finishing up.  “That’s a GOOD BOY!!!”    Hank walked around the yard while Gil ate.  Finally it was time to head off to work.  “Come on boy, sitter time.”   He put Hank’s new collar on and tucked him under his arm and headed to the SUV.   Every few seconds Gil found himself rubbing Hank’s head.

Once at the sitters Gil felt a twinge of guilt leaving him.  The lady behind the counter chuckled.  “First time is like leaving your kid in kindergarten.  I think the parents have more fear then the kids.  He’ll be fine.  You can check on the webcam anytime you want.  He’s got a few new friends to meet.  Right Hank?”

“Woof.”

“Well, you got my number if you need me.”  Gil just closed his eyes at the crazy sounding statement and left for work.     He only checked the webcam twenty times during the first couple of hours.   He didn’t work a double, he told Catherine he had personal matters to get done.

Once he hit the door of the puppy sitter’s place he realized he missed Hank.  In that short of time, he really missed him.  “Hank!”  The puppy turned from playing with his new found friends and ran to Gil’s open arms.   Gil received enough puppy kisses to require a tissue.

“My, my, I wish all these guys would greet Mom and Dad that way.”

“Was he a good boy tonight?   He didn’t do anything to get him thrown out?”  Once again Gil realized what he said.

“No,” trying to hold back laughter at the new parent, the sitter continued, “he was a good boy and did well on walks, played quite well with the others, shared his toys.   You can breathe easy he’s welcome back anytime.   We are open twenty four seven.”

“Thank heavens, I don’t think I would be comfortable leaving him home alone.  He already ripped his bed up.”

“Ahh, snow.  Did you take a picture?”  Gil chuckled and laughed.  “Well then that will be your picture for the desk.  Until you get a nice portrait done of the two of you for Christmas cards.   Hey !!  That picture WOULD be a great card!”

“Errr no.  I errr… no.”   He ruffled Hank’s head.  “Ready to go home Buddy?”

“Woof.”

*************

“Now you ripped your bed up so you sleep on the floor.   Good night.”  Gil flipped off the lights and settled down for sleep.

Whine.

“No.”

Whine.

“NO!”

A long and high pitched howl came from the other side of Gil’s bedroom.   He TRIED to ignore it but Hank wasn’t letting up.   About ten minutes of it and Gil couldn’t stand it anymore.   “Get over here.”   Hank scrambled to the side of the bed and put his front paws up.    Gil leaned down and cupped his butt and Hank ended up on the bed.  “Now lay down.”    Hank just stood there looking at Gil in the darken room.   “WHAT ?”    Gil reached over and turned on the light and turned back to the puppy.  “What?”   Hank looked at the pillow and back at Gil.  “Oh for….”   He pulled back the covers and Hank settled down with his head on the pillow.  Gil then put the covers over Hank.  “What? No bedtime story?”

Whine.

*****************

Catherine watched Gil from the doorframe.  He was so intent on whatever it was on the computer….and laughing!   She just stood there….waiting for the right moment.   “Well she must be something pretty special to make YOU laugh like that.”    Gil quickly turned the screen off.  “No, no, don’t stop on my account.  Keep watching you kinky thing you.”   She sat down in front of his desk.  “Soooo who is she?”  She took a big drink from the coffee cup.

“It’s a he.”

Catherine’s coffee came flying out of her mouth.   Coughing and wiping herself off, “EXCUSE ME?”

“It’s a he.”

“Errr all this time, I thought you were a ….errr ….”

“His name is Hank, and I got him at the Humane Society.”  He folded his hands on the desk.

“Oh thank God.”

“So if I were….”  His hands motioned in the air, “…you would be upset?”

“Err no, just surprised.  How old is he?   What kind?  When can I meet him?   Can I….”

“Whoa! Whoa!  I need time with him.  I just got him two days ago.  We’re still feeling each other out.”

“He snores.”

“Horribly.”   Gil and Catherine both chuckled.

“In your bed yet?”

“Last night.”   Gil rolled his eyes.

“That’s sweet.  At least he’s keeping you company.   You know Heather could keep the bed warm too.”

“Catherine.”

She held her hands up.  “Just trying to get you motivated.   So….can I come over and play with him?  Errr can Lindsay?”

“You BOTH can come over and wear him out for me.   He’s really good about the peeing and dumping outside.  He’s not got the stairs yet.  But….”

“Today when we get off okay?”   Gil nodded and Catherine got up.   “How about we bring breakfast?”   Again Gil nodded.   “Okay, see you about nine.”

******************

“Mom….”

“No, you don’t take care of the cat, we’re NOT getting a dog.”  Catherine looked at her daughter playing with Hank.  “You’re off to college in a few years and I’m not going to be dealing with the dog.  One animal is enough.”

“Well Grandma could use company.”  Lindsay stood there with her hands on her hips.

“Like mother like daughter.  Wow.”   Gil’s comment gained a raised eyebrow from Catherine.  Gil sucked in a lip to keep from laughing.  “There’s always day care.”

“No.”

“Funny I said the same thing.”  Gil smiled at her.  “We can run up to the shelter.  Hank can visit Deb while you look.”  Gil’s voice had a slight singsong tone.

“You’re rotten you know that.”  Gil’s look was ‘who me?’   Catherine sighed and got her handbag.  “Come on.”   Lindsay, Gil and Hank let out a yip.

******************

“Hey Deb brought you another sucker….errr adopting parent!”  Gil fended pain when Catherine’s  elbow hit him.   Hank ran over to Deb and was licking her face.

“Welcome, take your time and look the new ones over.   Play with them for a bit.  I’ll get the paperwork ready.  I know you will not be a problem, you’re Dr Gil’s friend.”

“Thanks.”  Catherine and Gil said it at the same time but for different meanings.

“So how about a little gift for Heather?”  Catherine looked up and down the cages.

“Heather?”

“Yeah, a nice new puppy, with all the trimmings, she can’t slam the door on that.”  Catherine’s fingers went thru the cage doors and tickled some of the puppies sitting there.    She could see the thought wheels spinning in Gil’s head.   “Cute, little err BLACK ball of fur.  Something that would sit on a pillow and not be too yappy.”

“Mmm I think we just might have something.”  Deb walked a ways farther.  “Here we go.  She’s alittle shy.  She was from a puppy mill and the runt of the litter.  Normally they kill them but we got to them first.”   Deb handed Catherine a little ball of black fur, no bigger then her fist.

“Oooooh.”  Catherine just hugged the puppy close to her heart.  “Poor baby.”  Gil looked down at Catherine.  “She…”  Catherine looked questionably to Deb who nodded, “…would be perfect for Heather.”  Gil’s finger rubbed the puppy’s chin and a tiny pink tongue came out.  “Ahhh, she likes you.  That’s half the battle.  Hank?”   Gil was surprised when Hank came trotting over.  Catherine bend down.  “What do you think?”   Hank’s head tilted from side to side.  He looked up to Gil.

“Woof.”

“See?  Even Hank agrees.”  Deb started smiling.  “Yeah, we women are in this together.”

“Wrap her up….I mean….oh heck you know.   Tell me what else I need.”

“A little basket for a bed, leash…wait Heather probably has a lot of leather around for one.  Collar…she’s got those too.”

“CATHERINE.”

She was laughing at him.  “Aww come on.  You know I’m kidding.   Get her a couple of boxes of food and what are those things….”

“Puppypads.”  Deb smiled.  “Great for little dogs.  They learn to do their business in a litter box.   And NO it will not work for Hank.  He’d flood the box.”

“Make a list.  This better work Catherine.  It’s costing me enough.”  Gil signed the papers and they headed out the door.

***************

“Come on  Hank.”   Gil put the little puppy in the back seat and picked up Hank. “You ride in the back and keep what’s her name company.”   Gil found himself whistling as he drove to Heather’s.   “Wait a second….Catherine didn’t get a puppy.  Why that little ….”   He heard a few yips from Hank.   “Ahhh, you were in on this too weren’t you?”

“Woof.”

“Figures.”   Gil pulled into the Domination’s drive way.   He hadn’t called but figured Heather would be doing her books.  He rang the bell and waited.  Finally the door opened.

“Mr Grissom.”  It was slightly cold sounding but at least she didn’t slam the door.

“I..got …I got you something.”  He held out the basket with the tiny puppy in the middle.

“Woof.”

“Okay, WE got you something.  Happy?”  Gil looked down at Hank.

“And the occasion?”  Heather stood there looking at them with one eyebrow raised slightly.

“Sorry, begging forgiveness.  Just thinking you might like a little companion.  Hank here approved the choice.”

“And I’m suppose to believe ‘Hank’?”

“Woof.”

Heather couldn’t help but to chuckle.  She looked into the basket.  “Oh the poor thing is cold.   Come in Mr Grissom. “    She opened the door farther.

“I have a box in the car too.  It’s got enough food and toys for….for….”

“Go get the box.”  Heather took the basket.  “Come on in Hank.”   Gil let the leash go as Hank was pulling on it to follow Heather.  “Close the door when you come in.”

Gil quickly got the box and came into the house.  Heather had gone into the kitchen where it was warmer.  She was just about to sit down to breakfast.  “Will you join me for some tea?”   Gil smiled and nodded.  Heather sat the basket on the floor and Hank sat next to the puppy watching them move in the kitchen together.

“Heather…”

“Some things are best not repeated.”  She handed him a basket of muffins.  She filled the china tea pot with the dark amber liquid.  “Maybe we should start fresh.  After all we are new parents now.  I’m sure Hank here will want to visit his ….”

“Little sister?”

Heather nodded slightly.  “That can be arranged.  Right now I think we need a name.”

“Hank?”

“Mr Grissom, I do believe it’s a female dog.”

“No…I was asking Hank for a suggestion.”  Heather looked down at Hank and raised an eyebrow.   “You’d be surprised Heather.”

“Muffin?”

“Woof.”

“See, told you.”  Gil looked at Heather.  “Hank would get the right name.”

“I was offering you a muffin Mr Grissom.”   Once again Hank barked.  “Muffin?”

“Woof.”

And then a tiny yip came from the basket.  Hank looked down.

“Woof?”

“Yip.”

“You’re cooked Heather.”