Genevieve and the Two Scotties by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Chapter 15

Leaves still resoundingly under their paws, they went left.

It didn’t look any different to them in the aggregate. If there was any difference from the entry path, it was subtle, nuanced, and difficult to describe by silenced Genevieve and Pablo.

There may have seemed to be a few more leaves clinging to their tree branches, their warmer weather hosts; and some of the seasonal residents may still have maintained a degree of green-ness which was greater than that of their counterparts on the straightaway. But, this could not be accurately determined, without at least having the benefit of photos taken by the same camera, on the same day, under the same light, with the same degree of hand steadiness, at a time when the single-shot adjustable, tricky F-stop is set at identical positions, on a day when the natural light was calculated to be a constant no matter the degree of shade, on a day when the lense was wiped with the same cloth prior to each shot, which is not possible as the first wiping would make the second subject to a fine blur caused by the residue gathered from the first wipe, and for the herein sake of brevity and mutual disinterest in lengthy sentences; is concluded without a mention of all the variables attributable to the creation of a negative and its subsequent development into a positive. One would do well to not mention

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the merry-go-round slide and all of its “modern” competitors.

One can get punched.

Genevieve and Pablo each did a quick mental perusal and thought that they had had all these privileged thoughts and maybe a few more; or thought that they didn’t; or were willing to say that they did. This cerebral process ended when they saw a greying dog lying in the center of the road.

He didn’t move, seemed despondent, and had his eyes wide open.

Theo, the lying dog; the kind courtesy of Pexels.com under their CC0 license.

Pablo said; “Are you all right?”

The dog said; “Do I look all right to you? Jeez. Somebody always has to add stupid questions on top of it.”

Genevieve laughed and said; “He’s fine. He still has his sense of humor.”

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The dog said; “Perceptive little lady. My name is Theo.

What are you doing on my road?”

Genevieve said; “We’re looking for Billy and Jack; two black Scottish terriers. Have you seen them?”

Theo said; “Probably, but I don’t remember many specifics.

So many come and go.”

Pablo said; “So you wouldn’t know where they are right now, I suppose.”

Theo said; “Exactamundo, chief.” He kind of grinned when he rose and towered over Genevieve and Pablo. He added; “Pardon me.

I’ve just been bummed out. Poochville used to be perfect; and then I heard about the food theft on Pacific Lane.”

Genevieve said; “No, it’s okay. That’s where we’re from.

Clement just took more than usual to feed the homeless kittens he had taken in.”

Theo snorted heavily and said; “Why the hell didn’t he tell everyone?”

Pablo said; “Well, the police, who really weren’t police got involved right away, and he was also afraid that everyone would object to cats in Poochville. Speaking of the police who really weren’t police; that was Billy and Jack. We’d like to thank them for their help. Some of us were quite rude to them at first.” He looked toward Genevieve, and she shrugged.

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Theo raised his voice and growled; “Why doesn’t anybody ever tell me these things? You know; you get on that damn internet and you get bombarded with all the bad news; never the good. And now, sometimes they even put fake news. It fooled me at first; and in repeating the nonsense I was severely embarrassed in front of a meeting at the mount.”

Genevieve said; “Tell me about it. I keep saying that I’m going to stop looking at it. And then ....... You know; it’s more addicting than Xanax, and worse it gets you agitated.”

Theo said; “Yeah; you tell me about it. ......... Did you say cats? ......... In Poochville? .......... Eating dog food?”

Genevieve said; “Yeah. Well, to be precise it’s one cat and five kittens. And they can go veggie, just like us.”

Theo looked at Genevieve quizzically.

Genevieve thought that she had read his mind, and said;

“Look here. I have a photo of Sunshine. He’s so cute. He was homeless and in trouble. Why not? Who could say no to that magical little boy?”

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Sunshine yawning; property of the author.

Theo said; “Yeah, I guess. They’re not all that different.

Softer, I guess. But, no problem there. Homeless, you say?”

Pablo was feeling as if he had been left out of the conversation and quickly answered to an un-needed extent;

“Homeless. Yes, indeed. And there were five kittens with one mother. Clement did the right thing; just didn’t know what to say about it.”

Theo said; “Yeah. Well, it’s been a good day for me so far.

Now I know that the crime was no crime and we now have some interesting diversity right here in Poochville. Now, if that damn net would get away from the dreadful stories and the out and out fabrications, and just make a simple, fair report of whatever happened ......... “

Genevieve interrupted to say; “In this case you could have walked a couple of blocks and found out for yourself. I’m no spring chicken and I can make it here and back.”

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Theo bristled and was speechless.

Pablo said; “What Genevieve meant to say was that ..... was that ...... was that, uh. Pacific Lane is not very far from here. You just go toward the river. And we always like company.”

Theo made the briefest of smiles and said; “Yes, indeed. I believe that the charm school is in the other direction. Is it not?”

Genevieve said; “We wouldn’t know. This is as far as we’ve yet gone. If I correctly recall, you first said that you have probably seen Billy and Jack; but that your memory lapse precluded a definitive statement. Is there anyone else on this road who might have a fresher take on things?”

Theo looked toward Pablo when he said; “This one’s gift for words is only exceeded by her relentlessness. Admirable to a certain extent, I suppose.” He nodded to Genevieve and gave he a big fat smile, before he added; “No, my good lady. I am the only one capable of canine speech who now lives on this road. You are free to consult with the crickets; but I wouldn’t expect that they’d tell you anything. They seem a secretive lot.”

Genevieve said; “Thank you, Theo. You’ve saved us some fruitless chirping time. We’ll try the middle road.”

Theo said; “Thank you for coming, my lady. You have brightened my day.”

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Genevieve and Pablo left the way they had come in and made a quick left onto the center lane of Ternary Way’s three pronged fork. It looked much like the lane they had just left. But they would soon be startled.

A black dog five times their collective size came out of somewhere and ran at them. He was so fast that by the time Genevieve and Pablo could get frightened, the black dog had come to a full stop right in front of them, tongue hanging, and said;

“Do you have a cigarette. I’m all out and desperate.”

Almost relieved, the duo shook their heads; and then Genevieve said; “No. Sorry. No. ......... I only smoke at home.

....... Uh, Pablo?”

Pablo said; “Me too. Sorry. And actually, it isn’t even all that much.”

The black dog said; “Oh, please pardon me. I didn’t want to seem so ill-mannered. It’s just this addiction. Hello, my name is Sniffles. ........... Oh boy; I think I have everything backwards.”

“I’m Genevieve.”

“I’m Pablo. Backwards? You mean like Lewis Carroll’s

“Through the Looking Glass?”

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The White Queen from “Through the Looking Glass;” public domain.

Sniffles said; “Oh, no; nothing near as sophisticated or comprehensive. In fact, backward memory alone can be quite a problem. If you’re perceived, correctly or not, as getting it wrong once, they never put any credence in anything else you say; and just keep repeating your supposed error, what is taken as the ostensible truth having originated in the slothful imagination of a credentialed-to-be-incompetent historian. You read much? And are you sure that you might not have accidentally brought a cigarette with you?”

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Sniffles; the kind courtesy of Pexels.com under their CC0 license.

Pablo said; “No. ...... I mean yes. I mean I don’t have any cigarettes ..... with me. And, yes I read some books.”

Sniffles said; “Thought so. They have their effects. Don’t they? They’re a real blessing though. I can remember when you couldn’t get anything other than blurred chicken scrawl on crinkly papyrus.”

Genevieve said; “You don’t look it, but you must be even older than me.”

Sniffles said; “I was older then. I’m younger now. Darn.

I’m all out and I’m just dying for a smoke. It’s been three days already.”

Genevieve said; “If you have some paper you can roll up some of these leaves and get a smoke. There’s an endless supply.”

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Sniffles nodded in a “not-a-bad-idea” sort of way.

Genevieve said; “Maybe you can help us. We’re looking for two black Scottish terriers. Have you seen anything like that?”

Sniffles said; “No, sorry. No Scots around here. And the others who were here split some time back. ...... They had their reasons at the time and most of them will be back someday. I hope they bring some smokes with them. This cold turkey is no fun at all.”

Pablo said; “So you’re here alone?”

Sniffles said; “Mary comes around sometimes. But, she has been adamant about one or the other of those electronic nicotine delivery systems, which is actually a non-delivery system; but it can get confusing to not use the incorrect current parlance.

She keeps switching around. Mary, that is. I’m waiting for the day when she runs out of options. She’s been convinced that all she has to do is touch one of the real things and she’ll be hopelessly addicted again. It’s impossible to convince her otherwise. I’m still hopeful. Can you be sure? Maybe you forgot and left a cigarette behind your ear.”

Genevieve said; “Your sniffling makes me think that there’s something bothering you besides the lack of cigarettes.”

Sniffles said; “Ah, here and there; you know. But this sniffling is really a product of the time when I fell right on

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my nose from all that wine. Right on my nose. Can you believe that? I didn’t think it was possible until I did it.”

Pablo said; “Will miracles never cease? See ya Sniffles.”

Genevieve said; “See ya Sniffles,” and the two trod back toward the road entrance.

Sniffles called out; “Paradise for a smoke.”

Genevieve said; “Give the grass a try. It’s organic.”

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