by Melinda Hardeman

Created on: December 18, 2011   Last Updated: December 19, 2011

It started with just a look not so long before when man decided to bring animal into his home.  A decision man was contemplating as as he sat upon his couch, elbows to his knees, hands folded in pleading contemplation staring at both a seeming enemy and a faithful friend.

"What we have here," man said to the animal, "is a failure to communicate." a favored line from a favored movie but which fit the particular situation well.  "But from which of us I wonder is the failing happening?  I'm pretty sure you understand English and I'm positive I do not understand animal.  So the fault here has to be your own."

A muted chuff, then a lifting of paws to table and lowering of head upon them.  Bored.  Entertained.  Whichever it was man did not know because animal was way too cunning.  That was why they both were there as they were, because man was losing to the wit of the animal.

"These are my things.  Mine and my wife." Man said to animal who continued to look on not in confusement but rather a 'yes, this I know' fashion which only tugged at his emotions towards anger.  "You cannot do this to our things.  I am master.  You are my servant of sorts."

This made the animal raise it's chocolate brown head.  Deep set eyes that always seemed to reflect guilt and innocence now seemed piercing.  Amazed.  Paws stayed on the table.  Elbows of man stayed to man's knees.

"Alright.  Let me put it this way.  This is my home.  These are my things.  I let you into my home.  I gave you your things.  Do you not like your things?"

Animal looked to squeaky toys, a bed and a ball.  Smacked it's lips then looked back to man.  The items had been placed near man's favorite chair by the arm. 

Man followed animal's gaze wincing.  But that was not it.  Animal was not done.  Animal pushed from the table, sauntered into the eating area of man bringing back a bowl which was in need of a washing but worse was empty.  The sun was not yet mid sky.

Man sighed.  "I get it.  I didn't pay attention.  I forgot to feed you.  And that bowl, even an animal shouldn't have to eat out of that."

Animal put it's paws back to the table sitting once more on it's  haunches and stared at man.

"I'll make you a deal, if I play with you in the morning and before dinner and give you a clean bowl and remember to feed you twice a day will you stop doing-" man paused looking at the torn up couch, shredded papers, chewed shoes and baseball bat that lay in splinters, "-this please?  Do we have a deal?"

Animal tilted it's head looking to the mess then eyed the cat perched in the window giving a low growl.

"She has to stay though, she's not mine.  You'd have to talk to my wife about that one." Man leaned forward and whispered, "Though I'd gladly back you up."

Animal lifted a paw.  Man took the paw.  And so the intelligible contact between man and animal was sealed with a single shake of paws.  There would be peace.

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