Cooper went missing.

Ally wept. tried to laugh. wept.
He was my best friend.

Kevin assured her, It'll be ok.

______________________

morning.

Marcy went looking.

______________________

the dumb dead deer wafted his scent up to the house
Cooper went hunting
they found him the next night in a ditch
paralyzed
laid there all night in his copper fur
wait

ing.

snapped at Kevin when they gingerly lifted him into the truck
paralyzed

but Dad, wasn't he cold all night
wasn't he hurting?

He felt nothing, Kevin assured them, it'll be okay.

the vet shook his head.

_______________________

grief is hanging on the refrigerator by a magnent
"we love you, Coper!"
Logan constructed a little sign
and spelled Coopers name wrong
"love Web too" it said
"love, the Smith's."

________________________

Sunday Morning:

Webster is lying like a wet blanket
beneath the table.

lonely.

sausage splattering.
pancakes bubbling.

B wipes his eyes with the bottom of his tshirt
M pours the batter and lets them come
rubs his back
the dumb radio keeps singing.

it's just a dumb dog, she keeps saying
they keep crying.

usually no one notices his furry head in their lap as they stroke it and stroke it and stroke it
now we notice.

dumb Christmas lights blinking cheerfully.

____________________

Monday Morning:

on my knees
when
Webster went searching for his friend
He never goes down to the road but today
it called for action.

M kept peering out the window at the cop at the end of the driveway asking
what is going on down there?

Webster hung his head.

A car had swerved so as not to hit a dog
Monday morning
a lil girl flew from the car

no one was hurt
no one was hurt

__________________

Tuesday Morning

Black coffee in hand
the window is large
two deer scamper by
it is snowing.

I am in my office on the couch, papers everywhere
Marcy tip taps on the computer applying applying applying
we make clicking noises with our tongue
we laugh

Webster farts.