He Begged Me Not To Go

Ahhhh, Saturday! I have especially been looking forward to this one. It has been a hard couple of weeks. Well, months really. But this week, I have again been gone from my home for 8 to 10 hours every day. Yeah, yeah, I know people do that all the time for their jobs and to make a living. But there is a difference; I don't wanna be gone and I don't get paid! Besides, we aren't talking about "people". We are talking about me. ;-)

Anyway, I woke early as is my norm. I proceeded with my morning routine, with nothing out of the ordinary taking place. Bubby went out; Bella came in - each of them happy and content. I made coffee, went out to feed the horses; came back in and read a bit. But when I went to the bathroom to shower and dress, my beagle feared the worst: Mama was leaving again.

When I sat down on the couch to put my shoes on, the whining began. He would not relent. He nuzzled me and tried to climb on my lap. When his aging body wouldn't let him and my aging body could not pick him up, the whining began again. I hugged him and petted him trying my best to comfort him.

"What's wrong, Bullet? I'm not going anywhere. We are staying home today. Together." He didn't believe me. He continued to try to get in my lap.

"Let's go outside, Bubby. I'm just going out to spend some time with the horses. You come with me."

On Watch

When he saw me pick up my keys to head out the door, he panicked. He lectured me in his deepest baritone.

"OOOOOOOWWWWWOOOOOOOOOHHH."  He cried...again and again.

It's ok! I told him, as if a beagle could understand. I only going out to unlock the gate for the farrier. You come with me."

And out we went. He watched me from the yard as I spent some time with my ponies. Bella romped in excited glee. The horses laughed at the canines.

When I came back in the house, Bullet eagerly followed me. As I laid my keys on the table, he visually relaxed, finally understanding and fully believing Mama wasn't going anywhere. At least not today.

He begged me not to go, and happily and thankfully, I complied. I have a beagle at my feet as I write and for now, we have a home day - together.