Bonita K. Nussbaum

Paper 2 - BERTIE

Wake up, wake up!  There’s a nutria outside! 

I want it, I want it! Why isn’t she listening to me?”

I’ll lick her face, ooh, watch out for that hand.  I don’t think she’s happy with me.  Oh, but it’s a nutria just waiting.  Please, please wake up! Yippee! She’s getting up, she’s getting up!

Race down the stairs, look behind to see if she’s coming.  She is, she is!  Run out that door, faster, faster, the nutria is getting away.  Maybe it went behind the barn, no? Gone again.  Oh well, I might as well pee.  The front door is opening, time to feed the cats, hurry, hurry!  Don’t want to miss licking the can.   Ooh, that’s sooo good.  Why can’t I eat food like this?

She’s pouring her coffee.  Guess I’ll lay down and wait for her to get her sweatshirt on so we can go walking. Dang, it, she’s pouring a second cup, just lay back, be patient.

She’s getting up, she’s putting on her sweatshirt, she’s putting on her sweatshirt. 

“Bertie, do you want to go walking?”

Duh, what does she think I want to do? Let’s go, let’s go.  Wow, this is great.  Think of all the possibilities.  Stop pulling my leash, I’m marking this spot. Walking, walking, smell, stop, mark, walking, walking . . . what a perfect way to start the day. Oh there’s that black dog, play it cool, save the growl until we’re right beside each other for optimum effect. What do you mean you want me to sit and be quiet?  Who needs manners? I’ll humor her; she’ll think I’m learning to behave.

Home again.  Time to eat, time to eat! All that walking makes me hungry.  I love to eat. Oh, the toast popped up.  She’s making cinnamon toast, my favorite.  Sit beside her chair, drool, stare, works every time. Cinnamon toast is so good.  Glad she doesn’t eat carrots for breakfast.  She’s going upstairs.  She’s getting into the shower.  Guess that means she’s going to work.  Got to lay down and plan my day. 

She’s picking up her computer bag, I’ll look sad and lie on this chair.  Bet she thinks I lie here all day and wait for her to come home.  Door’s closing.  Jump down and look out the window

so she thinks I’ll miss her (I’m really just checking to make sure she’s gone!). First thing on the agenda, go to Zak’s room, jump on the bed so I can watch the street. Look at all those people walking by, oh there’s that black dog.  I’ll growl and bark, not the same effect, he doesn’t even look around! Time to try another window.  Her bed’s all made, not comfortable.  Pull back the quilt, scratch around, oh, yah, that’s better.  Back yard seems quiet!  Ooh, what’s that I see moving?  Got to check it out.  Run, run down the stairs, hurry, hurry, faster, faster.  Gees, who waxed the hard wood?  Slipping, slipping, spin out, doesn’t feel good.  Look out the window. Backyard is quiet; doggone it.  I’ll just lie down in front of the door and wait.  There will be action soon; I can feel it.  Boring, boring, boring, I’ll just close my eyes for a little while.

          Yowzza, that sun’s hot.  Time to move.  Might as well check out the kitchen counter on the way. Good, boy, that Zak, left me some peanut butter and jelly to lick off. Mouth is dry, hope the toilet’s been flushed. Darn it, the lid’s down.  Got to run upstairs and check the other one. Ah, that water tastes good.  It’s a little warm up here; time for the front room.  Check the front door, no cats to bark at.  Oh well, it’s nap time.  Jump on chair, scratch, turn around and around, lie down . . . dreamland.

          Who’s knocking? Wake up, wake up, check it out.  Oh, its just that guy in funny shorts leaving a box on the step.  Bark, growl, make sure he knows I’m fierce just in case he has any ideas. Now that I’m awake, I might as well make the rounds again.  Check the kitchen, nope, I licked everything up the first time.  Check the back yard, just a few birds.  What’s that! What’s that!  It’s a squirrel. Jump! Growl!  Wow, he’s scared, look at him run.  Run, run, upstairs, maybe I can see him in the tree.  Up on the bed again, can’t see him, but I’ll keep watching anyways.

          Wonder what time it is?  When’s she coming home, getting a little bored here.  Time for Zak’s bed.  I hear a car, I hear a car! It’s turning in, it’s her, it’s her! Run, run, got to meet her at the door, she likes that.

          “Hey, Bertie.  Did you have a good day?” 

Oh I love it when she scratches my ears.  Oooh, she’s giving me kisses. Run to the back door, keep wiggling the butt, she thinks that’s so cute. Open the door, open the door, I gotta go.  Oh yeah, running outside now, faster, faster; doing my thing, run around some more.  There’s my rope.  Bring it to her, whine, stare, wiggle, drop it, pick it up, whine, stare, wiggle.  Oh she’s grabbed the other end.  Pull, pull, pull, I haven’t had this much fun in years.  Oh come on, you can pull harder than that. She let go, but I’m not done yet.  Whining, whining, she’s not listening.  Oh look, another squirrel, this time I’ll get it.  Running, running, faster, faster, he’s right in front of me, up the tree.  Dog-gone-it, why can’t I climb trees? I’ll just sit at the bottom and wait for him to come down.  He has no idea how long I can sit and stare up at him, he a dead squirrel.  Staring, staring, staring, getting a little bored, can’t let him win.  Staring, staring, staring.

“Bertie wanna eat?”

Oh well, tomorrow’s another day.