• "Stupid, stupid dog!"

    I dashed, furious, through the kitchen and grabbed my limp coat hanging in the closet. I pulled it on quickly and darted through the open door after my runaway dog. I lept onto the front porch and scanned the white snow. Finally my eyes fell upon a fresh set of tracks, swerving madly into the road. I looked around and spotted a little white blur scrambling in the deep snow across the road in a neighbors yard.

    Must get through snow! Snow cold. Made it! Lots of smells on tree! Grocery bag, dog, pinecone, newspaper. Dog? Where is dog now? Must find other dog.

    As I looked at my dog he made a final jump and landed on the sidewalk, out of the wet snow. He ran to a tree and sniffed excitedly. Then his head perked up as he darted down the pavement to another lawn. I jumped off the porch into the snow and tripped at how deep it was. I stood up, soaked throughly, and swore under my breath. I trudged through the remaining snow into the road. Then I raced into the yard where my dog was investigating.

    This is where dog was. But dog gone.

    My dog turned his tiny wet head toward me as I approached him and he bound back into the road. A car's headlights shone on his little white body and the screeching tires barely missed his head. I apologized briefly to the driver then scampered away as his head shook in frustration and anger. I watched my little dog run.

    Run, must run! Monster! Monster going to hit me! No monster missed. Where I go now? Home? Not yet. I go to pond first.

    My dog now looked like a skinned rabbit as he bound through the snow to the pond. I yelled at him to stop, trying to get him to slow, but his breakneck pace never wavered until he stood at the waters edge.

    Water. Where water? Water....frozen? Why frozen?

    He placed one paw tenderly onto the ice then pulled it back quickly as he felt its freezing temperature. He sniffed it uncertainly. I could tell he was puzzled by the ice and if not the circumstances I would have laughed. I didn't even know how he escaped. I was putting his leash on him as my brother opened the door to go outside and he had made his move, springing out the door.

    Owner. Owner over there. Pond frozen. Should I go home. No

    As I neared it, was obvious he didn't want his adventure to be over quite yet. He crazily looked around and saw only one way to escape, the pond. He gave me one last glance then jumped onto the ice. He tried to run but slipped on the glassy surface and could only lay sprawled on the ice as I reached down to scoop him up. We were both drenched but I no longer cared, I just wanted my dog.

    Maybe going home isn't so bad