BAD DOG’Z

Create don’t pro-create.

Will have a legacy?

I don’t want to disappear.

How do I create meaning in my life?

Dash is a stray dog. He is already two years old, supposed to be Labrador, but never grew the body of a pure breed, sluggish fur, and nonchalant hunched posture. Not remembering even a glimpse of his parents is something that makes him sad, and lately, he feels it even more. Ever since his birthday two weeks ago, he has this strange feeling inside of him that won’t go away no matter what he does. Maybe he is doing it all wrong…

The feeling is like a growing ball of fire under his solar plexus. An urge spreading all around his body, up to the tip of his paws, craving deep tender affection. A feeling he doesn’t even know, yet, he knows he needs it and his deep fantasies have never gone so wild. This spontaneous feeling resurges at any moment and takes him on the wildest adventures, always leaving him washed up on the shores of anywhere.

Today, walking down the dusty streets of the chaotic favela, it feels like the contrary of an oasis; if such a thing existed. A crammed-up desert. Everyone seems to be busy, but for their selfish reasons, in their selfish world, searching for leftover food near the dumpsters, begging to be adopted by a new master or gathering their scattered puppies. Dash walks flappy ears down with a drowsy sludgy face, like a numbed leopard, and no, there is nothing particularly wrong with him today, that is just how he’s been lately, like for the last year and a half. His bony figure slowly stalks every street corner, sometimes he gets into brawls, sometimes he finds leftover lunch.

It’s late on this summer Sunday afternoon and Dash is still walking. For the first time in his short life he sees a girl Labradora, there, lying on a doormat. Fur clean and soft, no scars or dirt scabs, she seems like a house dog. How beautiful, she is completely mesmerizing, simply a pleasure to observe. He could sniff her cool pure scent from blocks away, however, she was not alone. So he got closer, almost face to face, in the dog world one’s personal space is much reduced. He sniffed her all around and sniffed all the multi-colored and patterned baby puppies, she was exhausted, he could sense that but also her wonderful satisfaction. He never imagined one could reach such levels of thrill and self peace, literally, she was glowing yellow.

Dash tough for a moment: “ I’ve found my soulmate, this is the missing piece to my dull life, she is just the one I was waiting for.”

- Hey there! -he said

-Hey. -she replied in a soft voice.

His mind racing, heart beating, tail wiggling.

-Are those my kids? — is all he could make out, such a awkward question…

-No way Jose. Life is a bitch, but to have kids you got to make them yourself! — she said, surprisingly not surprised by his question.

-Oh okay, thanks anyways. — he replied timidly.

-Bye, I suppose?

- Bye.

-Take care.

-Yeah, you too.

Dash walked away slowly, thinking, and planning.

Something had clicked inside of him, something from her beauty deeply inspired him.

Starting Monday, he will start creating instead of procreating.

-your loving karim