One Last Dance

"Whoa!  We'd better sit a spell, boy."  Calvin leaned against a tree, breathing hard.  It took a couple of minutes for him to slip down to a sitting position, his arthritic knees protesting all the way.  He leaned back against the rough bark, absently rubbing his right hand up and down his left arm.  His big Golden Retriever whined softly, and lay his head in the man's lap, his soft brown eyes on his master's face.  Calvin reached down and stroked the big head fondly.  They'd been together for fifteen years, now.

Water gurgled softly against tree roots, then babbled across a small gravel bar before flowing on down the creek.  The trees overhead blocked out most of the sunlight, only allowing a few golden rays to streak into the hushed clearing.  Leaning back against the tree, Calvin was silent, drinking in the soft forest sounds, letting them awaken his memories of this place.  His hand never ceased to stroke his canine companion's head, except for the few times he stopped to rub his arm.  Then he finally spoke.

"You know boy, this is the very place where I proposed to my Ellie, seventy-three years ago.  I was twenty, and she was only seventeen.  The world's changed lot since then, but I don't think this place ever has.  That's why I love it so much.  I can remember things here -- things I'd thought long-forgotten."

He went on to describe his beautiful Ellie, his anguish as he struggled to work up enough nerve to pop the question, and then the rush of joy when she'd said 'yes.'  He spoke of love, young and beautiful, and of a lifetime of joy together ... and how he'd been so alone for these last ten years.

"It's been quite a journey, hasn't it, Fella?"

The dog whined once, never lifting his head.  His eyes never left his master's face.

"We often danced here," Calvin said.  "We didn't need music -- we could feel our own music in our souls."  He was leaning back again, remembering the touch of his lips against her forehead as they danced, and the way her hair tickled his nostrils.  He could almost feel her, smell her hair.

He smiled, his eyes closed, and reached for her proffered hand, smooth and cool in the shade.  They danced, and he could feel her small, soft breasts pressed into his chest.  He held her tightly, lost in the sensations flooding his body, and danced ... and danced.  Then she stopped, and looked up into his eyes.

"Don't go."  Calvin's plea murmured softly above the sound of the creek.

The dog stirred, whining softly.

"Come with me, Cal."  Her smile was radiant.

"Can ... can I?"  Calvin glanced back at his dog.

"Yes.  Yes, you can, Cal.  It's time now.  There are no endings -- just new beginnings."

They turned, and walked toward the music, and the dog whined softly.

Calvin turned and looked at his faithful companion.  "Well?  You coming or not, boy?"

The dog bounded after them into the light.

Calvin's hand stopped stroking and went limp, dropping by his side.

The huge brown eyes gazed into his final smile, and slowly closed.

They found them there, together, the next day.  A man and his dog.  An ending -- and a new beginning.

DDallas D'Angelo-Gary 02