Misty Munchkin

Rogue

Thursday, March 5, 2009 7:48:24 AM

It was hot and dry. The heat had cracked the soil in abstract patterns. The black tips of her designer sandals were coated with a fine layer dust as they kicked way through the brown mud. Sweat gleamed on her forehead and trickled down to trace the outlines of her dark brow. Normally, this would have bothered her. On any other day, she would have raced to seek the comforts of the first available air conditioner. But today she just did not care.

The past week had been demanded. It had usurped all her time, attention and emotions. All she found herself left with was a sense of irritated anger which had no roots. When her morning had started with her snapping at her work colleagues and juniors, she knew she had to step out. She wanted fresh air. She wanted the sun. She wanted the October heat to beat out all the anger from her head.

The sun mercilessly bowed to this wish of hers. Her shirt was sticking to her skin by now and her heels were beginning to hurt. She squinted in the sun. Up ahead she saw the inviting shade of some trees. She stood there on the dusty pathway contemplating her next move. Should she give herself a break or should she continue this self torture?

Still contemplating she made her way towards the trees. Nestled in their blessed shade, was an excuse for a restaurant. It looked more like a huge tin drink holder. Stacked in trays along the asbestos walls were crates of cold drinks and bottled water. She sighed in resignation. Her throat was pleading for some liquid reprieve. She bought a bottle of water and poured it down. A little of the water splashed down and collected on the tiled floor near her foot.

She heard some noise. Frowning she looked down at her foot.

There was a small, frail, muddy white puppy lapping away at the spilled water, oblivious to her stare. She stood still, afraid any movement might scare the little thing away. She should not have worried. After having licked off all the water, he looked up at her and let out a small ‘woof’! The tiny pup could hardly bark! His tail was wagging in all enthusiasm as he continued to subject her to his stare.
Highly amused, she poured some more water on the floor. Promptly, the puppy returned his tongue to the chore. She smiled for the first time in days. Setting the bottle on top of the counter, she bent down to pick the puppy up. He hardly weighed a feather and was just about bigger than her palm! He wriggled and woofed in protest. She held him inches away from her nose and scrutinized him.

“Oh him!” the owner smiled from behind the counter. “ Just wandered in one day! And will wander out again! They always do!”

“Hmmm,” she replied absently as she continued to stare at the wriggling puppy inches away from her face.
“You better put him down miss,” The owner warned mischievously, “Else the rogue wouldn’t mind following a pretty lady like yourself home!”

“Why!” She smiled at the puppy, “You are such a playboy!”

The puppy just wriggled and woofed more in response. She laughed. She then tucked him in her arm and smiled at the owner. “You wouldn’t mind if I took this rogue home, would you?” She asked.

Baffled the owner just shrugged his shoulders. “He is a stray!”

“Maybe I can give him a home,” she murmured.

BlackBRIDE