Rock Star
A short-short story
My dog, Rock Star (Rocky for short) is the world’s sweetest dog. I wanted to share him with more than just passersby. It merely required me to be a little outrageous.
For example, I passed the local elementary school at recess. Rocky and I walked on campus, I let him off the leash, whereupon he bounced up to group after group, tail wagging, and nuzzling up for a pet or hug. Then, for fun, kids started to run away, and Rocky raced after. Never have you heard such yelps of delight. When the supervisor stomped over, I fake-apologized profusely and we left, my “tail between my legs” but not really.
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Then there were the shut-ins. For example, on our walks, I occasionally saw old people staring out their window. I came to the door and explained that Rocky would love to say hi. Between my big smile and Rocky’s wagging his entire rear half, even most scared, senile people gave it a shot — and never regretted it. Before I’ve left, they’re usually back in their chair with Rocky on their lap cuddling.
Then there were the nursing homes. I never asked permission before coming in — I was afraid they’d say crap like “Insurance regulations don’t allow pets.” I just strutted in like I owned the place and if someone tried to stop me, I just announced, “Service dog” and strode on. It usually worked. I then followed the signs to the TV room, activities room, wherever I sense there‘d’ be a number of residents. There, the comatose denizens’ heads usually rose from somnolence. Some even got up from their wheelchairs.
I did that for years and finally, my Rocky died. I invited everyone that we had visited to the funeral, which was held in a pet cemetery. Four hundred people (and more than a few dogs) showed up and many gave touching eulogies, but none like Mildred Epps’. An attendant wheeled her hospital bed — yes, a hospital bed — up to the grave site and Mildred wheezed, “At every funeral, people crow about how great the person was, even if it was a crack dealer. But no praise is more deserved than what we’re saying about Rocky. May we humans, supposedly superior creatures, live up to who Rock Star was.” The applause was greater and, indeed, more deserved, than for human rock stars.
I read this aloud on YouTube.
When not petting his dog Hachi, Marty Nemko is a career and personal coach, and author of 32 books including Little Doggie Stories. You can reach Marty at mnemko@comcast.net
