Boomerang Dog

"GO ON!  GET OUT A HERE! I don't need some stinkin' ol' stray hangin' 'round here! JUST KEEP A GOIN'! That's right. . . right on DOWN THE ROAD!  GO ON!  GET!  SKEDADDLE! Damn people . . . thinkin' it's okay to drop animals off in the country. Well, IT AIN'T!"

"Back again, huh? What . . . they turn ya away down the road too? Humph . . . well, you just get yourself right on outa here. SHOO! GET! Don't be prancin' 'round lookin' cute. I ain't playin' with ya. And don't be givin' me none a them sad-eye looks neither! I mean it . . . move along! GO!"

"Ah HAH ya little bum. I see you over there sneakin' 'round still. Come on out ya mangy mutt. Ya thirsty? Here ya go . . . come on over here and get a drink. That's a good boy. I'm sorry, I shouldn't a been so heartless. My life wouldn't be worth a plug nickel if Mary'd seen me treatin' an animal bad. Bet you're hungry too. Lemme go see what I can find. You stay right here."

"How bout some hot dogs? It's either that or cold cereal. So . . . ya got no tags . . . no collar? Why'd ya get dumped fella? You a bad dog? A biter? Hey, did you just smile? Hmm . . . weird."

"Okay ya crazy ol' dog, now why'd ya bring me a rock? What am I gonna do with a rock? Ohhh . . . ya wanna play huh? Well, maybe for just a bit — gonna trade this here rock in for a stick though."

"Alrighty buster . . . that's all this ol' guy can handle tonight. I'm goin' on inside now. Good night ya ol' mutt. Maybe I'll see ya 'round tomorrow."

"Ahhh, still here I see. Let's check your water. Think I'll head on into town and pick ya up some proper food seein' how you're stickin' around. Be back in a jiffy."

"Come on now . . . bring me back the stick, buddy. If you think I'm gonna drag these old bones out a this here chair to chase you, you'd be wrong! Well, you little wise guy! Droppin' it behind  the chair ain't gonna get me to throw it again, now is it? I swear it looks like you're smilin'. You gotta be the first dog I ever seen smile!"

"Hey mister, is that your dog?"

"Huh? Uhh . . . "

"I think that's my kids' dog. Hey Boomer! Here boy."

"Umm, actually he just showed up here 'bout four days ago. Been hanging 'round ever since."

"Uhh . . . yep, he's been gone since Tuesday. How ya doing boy?"

"I can see by that waggin' tail, he's mighty pleased to see ya."

"Awww, nice to see you too Boomer."

"He's certainly a friendly ol' dog — reminds me of a yellow lab I had years ago."

"Well, I don't know if he's got any lab in him or not. He's just some stray that showed up at our place last spring. The kids'll sure be happy I found him."

"Where do ya'll live?"

"Over on Sky Road."

"Hmm, don't know that road — I'm kinda new in this area and don't get around much these days."

"It's over that hill there about five miles, as the crow flies."

"Ya don't say? Quite a ways from home, aren't ya fella?"

"I hardly ever drive this road, so was a streak of luck I spotted ol' Boomer here. Just happened to be the shortest route over to the John Deere dealer in town from where I was workin'. Damn tractor broke down in the field so was headed in to get a new water pump."

"You farm, huh?"

"Yeah. I work for ol' man Hendricks — farm hand. Name's Cal."

"Nice to meet ya Cal, I'm Dan."

"You've sure got a great view of the valley here, Dan."

"Thank ya. My wife and I used to take Sunday drives out here to the country. She fell in love with this view so 'bout a year ago we were finally able to buy this piece a ground, took everything we ever had too, and we moved this here double-wide on it."

"It's a beautiful area. Well, I better get on over to town. Come on Boomer, lets go. Nice to meet you Dan and thanks for looking after Boomer."

"Well, I'll be — hey boy, you back again? Don't ya know this ain't your home? Your family know where you are? Well, come on then, lets go get ya some food and water. Hopefully they'll think to come lookin' for ya here."

"Howdy Cal, I guess ya saw your Boomer's back again, huh?"

"Yep, thought I'd just check and sure enough . . . "

"Been here all day . . . showed up early this mornin'."

"I don't know what's gotten into him. He used to never run off like this. Now, twice in two weeks?"

"Maybe he's bored."

"The two older kids just did start back to school — I bet you're right. Hate to have to tie him up . . . "

"Oh, I don't mind him visitin'. I've taken quite a shine to the little rascal. Gets kinda lonely 'round here since Mary died."

"Your wife?"

"Yeah, been a few months now."

"Sorry man, I thought . . ."

"Well, she was pretty darn sick toward the end, so —"

"Say, Dan, why don't I give you my phone number so if he shows up here again, you can let us know. Give me yours too if you don't mind."

"Good idea."

"Alrighty then . . . lets go, Boomer. Bye Dan."

"See ya Cal. Maybe I'll see ya around Boomer."

"Yeah, yeah . . . hold on. Damn phone — why's it always gotta ring durin' nap time anyway? Hello?"

"Hi Dan, it's Cal."

"Hey Cal, what's up?"

"That crazy dog wouldn't happen to be there, would he?"

"Uhh . . . lemme look. No . . . I don't see him around."

"Well, he's been missing a few days now."

"Ya don't say."

"I wasn't too concerned . . . thought for sure he headed back to your place."

"No, I ain't seen the fella. I'll sure give ya a holler if he shows up."

"Thanks Dan."

"Hello?"

"Cal, it's Dan."

"Hey Dan. Boomer show up?"

"No, but after we talked I drove around lookin' for him."

"Any luck?"

"Well, if that's what ya wanna call it. I'm over at the pound."

"Damn!"

"It's gonna cost a hunerd bucks to break him out. I can go ahead and get him out for ya since I'm here already. Cal?"

"Man, I don't have  a hundred bucks to get him out. As sad as it is, I can't swing it. I just can't."

"Dang . . . that's too bad. He's such a great dog."

"Dan, I know how you feel about Boomer. If you want to go ahead and get him out, you can have him. He'd be yours."

"Well . . . reckon I might just take ya up on that."

"Looky here what I put up for ya Boomer. A dog run — whatcha think? Don't worry, ya only have to stay in here at night and when I'm not around. Can't have ya gettin' picked up again! Yeah, yeah, I know ya don't like that new collar either. You'll get used to it 'fore ya know it. Come on, let's head on up to the porch and watch the sunset . . . gonna be a purty one tonight. Mary would a loved  you, ya ol' mutt."

"Brrrr . . . was a chilly one last night, Mary. Looks like frost nipped some of your flowers. OH NO WAY! That darn dog dug himself out? BOOMER! HERE BOY. Where in the hell —?"

"Hello?"

"Cal, it's Dan. You seen that dang dog?"

"You're kidding. He's missing?"

"Yeah . . . dug out of the kennel I put up for him."

"That's one free-spirited dog, for sure. No, I haven't seen him, but I've been out in the field digging spuds since before sun up."

"Oh, sorry to bother ya."

"No, its okay. Let me call home and check with Gina. I'll have her give ya a call if he shows up there."

"Thanks Cal."

"Hey Dan? This is Gina, Cal's wife . . ."

"Yes?"

"Just wanted to let you know the kids just came walking home from the bus stop with . . ."

"Lemme guess . . . Boomer?"

"Yes, and boy are they excited to see him."

"Well, I'll be. How 'bout I give 'em a few hours with the little stinker 'fore I come pick him up?"

"That'd be great. Thank you Dan."

"Hi Dan. How's it going?"

"Well, howdy Cal. Glad to see you're home — thought ya might still be out in the field. Hey Boomer, ya little rascal you."

"Dan, these are my kids — Sam, Josh, Benny and Rachel, my oldest. She just turned eight. Kids this here is Mr. Dan, Boomer's new owner."

"But Dad, Boomer's our dog!"

"Rachel, your daddy already told you about this."

"And this beautiful lady must be Gina."

"Hi Dan, nice to meet you."

"Daddy . . . "

"Daddy don't let him take Boomer!"

"Kids . . . come on now . . . no tears!"

"Aww Cal, I can't take these kids' dog away from them. I want ya'll to just keep Boomer, okay?"

"But Dan, we can't pay you . . . "

"Oh no! I wouldn't hear of it. Hey kids . . . I wanna tell ya somethin'. Have ya ever heard of a boomerang dog?"

"Huh uh."

"Well, there's not many boomerang dogs left in this here world, but that's just what ya'll got here — one a them rare boomerang dogs. No matter what, they just keep comin' back 'cause they love ya. Yep, ol' Boomer here is a mighty special dog. So I want ya'll to promise me to take really good care of him, okay?"

"We promise . . . "

"Does that mean Boomer will go back to you Mr. Dan?"

"Maybe . . . but he's gonna keep comin' back to you too."

"Yippee! Boomer gets to stay."

"Dan, that's so nice of you."

Aww, don't mention it, Cal. Reckon I'll get goin' now. See ya 'round ya mangy mutt. There ya go smilin' again . . . "

"He does that a lot, doesn't he? What a crazy dog!"

"Bye ya'll."

"G'bye Dan."

"Hello?"

"Hi Dan, it's Cal."

"Hi Cal, how's things going? Ya ain't lost a dog have ya?"

"Uh . . . no. He's been sticking close to home so far."

"Well good, don't need to be bustin' him out a jail again."

"We were all hoping, Boomer included, that you'd join us for Sunday dinner."

"Uh . . ."

"Just so you know, Gina's the best cook in the whole darn valley."

"I'd love to. Thank ya Cal."

"Great! See you Sunday . . . around two o'clock?"

"Two o'clock it is. G'bye. Well, Mary, looks like I'm gonna get to sink my teeth into some good ol' home cookin' again. MMM MMM!"

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