Oscar….a short story

Jason78

I'd been here before. Fourty-eight hours since sleep and it was time for a change. So I decided to head North and visit my brother along the way. I'd been driving for nearly eight hours now. Infinity. Infinitely……that's what it felt like. The great sound of great jazz flying from the speakers of my beat up Chevy side step. At this point all the songs just melded together into one grand movement with the deejays functioning as bridges. I was out of cigarettes and I didn't even smoke. My eyes were glazed over and the road was dusty and long. I was just a few miles from his home when I reached down for my empty pack hoping for one left. The car suddenly jolted and my head whipped down and then alertly up. Nothing in the mirror but a cloud of dust. No need for a cigarette…..or coffee now. Soon after I started feeling sick and that I should've stopped. My mind always goes there. But I was ready for my destination and I was hungry. I pulled into the driveway and shut the engine down before the wheels had even stopped.
Shortly after I wake from the stare of a blazing sunset and notice a note under my wiper. Fined for sleeping in my car in a driveway.

-"Hey Jim! You looked too peaceful and didn't want to disturb that. So glad you're here! Anyway, little Sammy and I will be back this evening. Oscars gotten out again and of course there'll be no rest till' we retrieve him. There's chili on the stove and whiskey in the jar! Haha! Make yourself at home."-

-Sam

The next time I open my eyes it's the the sound of the old screen door. They always slam. And a boy is crying. "What happened?" I ask. Sammy runs up the stairs and I hear the sound of his face tackling the pillow.
"Well Oscar's had his final run. Some fool hit him out on old Pike Road and just left him there. Damn dog was still breathing when we found him. I really wish he hadn't been."
(Shit)
"Shit, I'm sorry" I said. "Pike you said?"
"Yeah."
"How long do you think he'd been like that?" I ask
" I don't know ….an hour….two. Why?"
"No reason. Seems like a long time. Poor guy."
"Jim, I swear he died the moment Sammy laid his hands on him."
"Oh yeah? …..You mind if I go up and see him."
"Nah…. you haven't touched the chili. I'll heat it up. "
"Sounds good."
I knock on the door and ask to come in.
"Okay."
"I'm sorry about Oscar" I say as I sit on the bed next to him and place my hand on his head.
"You're Dad said he was still alive when you guys found him."
"Yeah." he replies.
I smile. "You know that's because he wouldn't leave without saying goodbye?"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah and besides all dogs go to heaven. You know that. You'll see him again one day. You can't say the same about people."
"Huh?" the boy enquire's…confused
"Ah, never mind Sammy. I'll tell you what, tomorrow we're gonna get up and were gonna go find you a new dog somewhere and we're gonna tell him all about Oscar and what a great dog he was and what big paws he has to fill. Haha!"
"Yeah!" he cries
I walk to the door and look back. The boy is smiling. The best smile of his life.
I wink "Goodnight" and flip the light switch and feel the calm of a closing day. The calm of a sunset. I slide down the wall and close my eyes and the day bleeds out of me.

The next morning I awake on the floor to the sound of dishes……next to a bowl of chili and some coffee and under a warm blanket.
"Jim you awake?!"
"No" I plea
"Huh?!" my brother sharply returns
"No...yeah! You're really pushing this damn chili thing!"
I hear young laughter
"Hey watch it! Sammy's down here ya know?!" And it's just like Dad's!"
"Stop yelling." I beg
"Just drink your coffee and get down here!" "We're going dog hunting…and you're invited!"
"Yeah, I know. Could you just cook me some bacon and eggs please? And I'll take that whiskey."
"It's nine o' clock!" he replies
"Well then I'll take it with cream and two sugars."

chadwick

nicely done. that is clever

Jason78

chadwick said:

nicely done. that is clever

Thank you Sir!