Rabid Recall: CH4 - Oh Happy Day

Fourth prompt.
Talk about a chance not taken by one of the characters. That can happen right now or be something form the past. Show me a consequence from not having taken the chance.
Remember to highlight the prompt words/phrases in bold, or ALL CAPITALS, or color.
Due on or before October 23, 2009; 11:59PM WDC time.



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Rabid Recall

Chapter 4 - Oh Happy Day

by Indelibleink

Eddie peered out the kitchen window and watched the snow continue to come down like crazy. Now in the third day of an early February blizzard, at least today was Saturday and he didn't have to worry about getting the kids - or himself - out the door and to school or work safely. He sipped on his coffee, and hoped that there was still enough gas in the snow blower to take care of the driveway this morning. The last thing he wanted to do was to have to make a "gas run" in this weather. And, he wanted to have everything taken care of place today, since tomorrow was "Super Bowl Sunday."

Happy, having heard Eddie in the kitchen, abandoned his place at the foot of Shaun's bed to come downstairs and be let outside. Eddie, used to the morning routine, had heard Happy coming down the steps and was already waiting by the back door when Happy entered the kitchen. He gave Happy an affectionate rub on the head and opened the back door.

"You stick around, Happy, that snow's getting pretty deep." With a lot the size of just under 3 acres - at one time it was an apple orchard - Happy was allowed to run free and had never strayed from the property. Eddie attributed this to what he perceived as Happy's intense loyalty to Shaun; Happy never left Shaun's side unless Shaun was in school, or, as was the case right now, Happy had "dog business" to attend to.

Elizabeth entered the kitchen, still in bathrobe and slippers, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She grabbed some coffee from the pot, peered out the window, winced, and had a seat next to her husband at the kitchen table. "Have to treasure these moments. The kids are all still sleeping." 

Eddie laughed. "Yeah. Know what you mean." His face turned serious. "You doing okay? I mean, with Larry and all?"

"Still nothing new there...and no news is good news, I guess."

Eddie nodded in agreement. With regard to Larry, both parents - as well as the psychiatrist - were still amazed that Larry had no memory of his suicide attempt. Larry, himself, was tired of the whole process: seeing a psychiatrist for no apparent reason, undergoing a battery of medical tests in a never-ending quest to find a brain lesion - or anything - to explain his actions last November, with no success. And, Larry was tired of being treated as "special" at school. He was now "special" with the teachers, and - at the very least - was "special" or even "off limits" for some of Larry's classmates. All Larry wanted was to be "normal" again.

Elizabeth stared into her now-empty coffee cup. "You know, Eddie, I was talking to Lois Jenkins a couple of days ago about Happy and Larry. She said she'd be glad to..."

"Lizzy," Eddie interrupted, "I know Lois would be 'glad to' get together with Larry and Happy and do her 'doggie intervention' or whatever she calls it. But - remember - we already discussed it?" 

Lois Jenkins was a dog breeder/trainer who lived down the street, and who had a five year old son, Jessie, who was friends with Shaun. One day, after Larry's suicide attempt, Shaun had told Jessie that Happy and Larry "didn't like each other" and Jessie, in turn, had told his mother. Then, about a week ago, Lois and Elizabeth ran into each other at a school function, and Lois described her training skills to Elizabeth.

"Edward, as I recall, I didn't get much of a chance to 'discuss' anything. You did all of the talking." Elizabeth was aware that Happy and Larry were not exactly the best of friends, and simply had felt that bringing the two closer, particularly given Larry's actions of two months ago, might offer a "therapeutic" benefit of some degree. "Edward, the best chance of Larry and Happy getting along will happen if we let Lois help."

Eddie clearly felt otherwise. "Lizzy. Think about it: We're talking about a boy and a dog here, not 'couples counseling'! Just like with people, sometimes certain people simply don't get along with certain animals. Nobody says they have to get along like best buds. The last thing Larry needs is another adult intervening with his life."

"Understood, my dear. But I just don't think it's healthy for them - okay, healthy for Larry - to be at odds with another living being under the same roof. I just don't. And tell me Eddie, how big is the risk? What do we stand to lose by going to Lois?  We're taking a bigger risk by doing nothing. You just admitted they don't get along. I think we're taking a giant chance by leaving Larry and Happy alone without intervening."

"Lizzy, please don't over-analyze the thing. You're starting to go all 'Dr. Phil' with an eight year-old and a dog. And now you want to bring in a 'dog whisperer' or something. Don't you think it's just possible you're over-reacting?"

"Dammit, Larry, need I remind you that our son tried to kill himself? You think about it! Is there really any way you can 'over-react' to attempted suicide?" Elizabeth, now standing, slammed her coffee cup down on the kitchen counter. Her voice rising as she spoke, it was pretty clear that Eddie had pushed the wrong buttons, but now he was pretty agitated himself.

Just then, a startled Larry entered the kitchen. Realizing that he probably had heard the conversation, Elizabeth began to sob, and walked over to bend down and comfort her son. At the same time, Happy began yelping outside the back door, signaling that he was ready to come in.

Eddie, still angry at the direction that the conversation had taken, and also at Elizabeth for verbalizing some thoughts that shouldn't have been stated for what were now clearly obvious reasons, had a spur-of-the-moment idea, a way of demonstrating that Larry and Happy weren't the problem.

"Larry, please bring Happy in from outside."