The Game of Love
by Lou Kassem
Dad brought him home from a fishing trip in the mountains, full of cockleburs and so thin you could count every rib.
“Good gracious,” Mom said. “He’s filthy!”
“No, he isn’t! He’s Rusty,” said John, my eight-year-old brother. “Can we keep him? Please... please... please.”
“He’s going to be a big dog,” Dad warned, lifting a mud-encrusted paw. “Probably why he was abandoned.”
“What kind of dog?” I asked. It was impossible to get close to this smelly creature.
“Mostly German shepherd,” Dad said. “He’s in bad shape, John. He may not make it.”John was gently picking out cockleburs.“I’ll take care of Rusty. Honest, I will.”
Mom gave in, as she usually did with John. My little brother had a mild form of hemophilia. Four years earlier, he’d almost bled to death from a routine tonsillectomy. We’d all been careful with him since then.
“All right, John,” Dad said. “We’ll keep Rusty. But he’s your responsibility.”
“Deal!”
And that’s how Rusty came to live with us. He was John’s dog from that very first moment, though he tolerated the rest of us.John kept his word. He fed, watered, medicated and groomed the scruffy-looking animal every day. I think he liked taking care of something rather than being taken care of.Over the summer, Rusty grew into a big, handsome dog. He and John were constant companions. Wherever John went, Rusty was by his side. When school began, Rusty would walk John the six blocks to elementary school, then come home. Every school day at three o’clock, rain or shine, Rusty would wait for John at the playground.
“There goes Rusty,” the neighbors would say. “Must be close to three. You can set your watch by that dog.”
Telling time wasn’t the only amazing thing about Rusty. Somehow, he sensed that John shouldn’t roughhouse like the other boys. He was very protective. When the neighborhood bully taunted my undersized brother, Rusty’s hackles rose, and a deep, menacing growl came from his throat. The heckling ceased after one encounter. And when John and his best friend Bobby wrestled, Rusty monitored their play with a watchful eye. If John were on top, fine. If Bobby got John down, Rusty would lope over, grab Bobby’s collar and pull him off. Bobby and John thought this game great fun. They staged fights quite often, much to Mother’s dismay.
“You’re going to get hurt, John!” she would scold. “And you aren’t being fair to Rusty.”
John didn’t like being restricted. He hated being careful—being different. “It’s just a game, Mom. Shoot, even Rusty knows that. Don’t you, boy?” Rusty would cock his head and give John a happy smile.
In the spring, John got an afternoon paper route. He’d come home from school, fold his papers and take off on his bike to deliver them. He always took the same streets, in the same order. Of course, Rusty delivered papers, too.
One day, for no particular reason, John changed his route. Instead of turning left on a street as he usually did, he turned right. Thump!... Crash!... A screech of brakes... Rusty sailed through the air.
Someone called us about the accident. I had to pry John from Rusty’s lifeless body so that Dad could bring Rusty home.
“It’s my fault,” John said over and over. “Rusty thought the car was gonna hit me. He thought it was another game.”
“The only game Rusty was playing was the game of love,” Dad said. “You both played it well.”
John sniffled. “Huh?”
“You were there for Rusty when he needed you. He was there for you when he thought you needed him. That’s the game of love.”
“I want him back,” John wailed. “My Rusty’s gone!”
“No, he isn’t,” Dad said, hugging John and me. “Rusty will stay in your memories forever.”
And he has.
*adapted from "Chicken Soup for the Soul"*
you're kidding, mis-cat... 2-minute noodles? maybe your kids do it better huh.... lol
Maybe he can maybe he can't, but I know this he's only just learnt how to do microwave popcorn, he' still can't make 2mins noodles either way (stove or micro) so with out these basic survival skills there is no way I'm leaving him alone with the kids for any extended period of time...
"Your born, You Live, You Die, given this premise, one can conclude since we have no control over when we are born and when we die, the only thing that matters to us should be how we live, simple really?" Mis-Cat to her philosophy Lecturer.
you go, girl.....
Rightly so, we arent debating on whether Women can do it or not are we now, I'm busy listing down things that Men can also do as in Multi-Tasking...aah there are a few exceptions like dear Abohmaid..that cant do it...but then again, exceptions are there everywhere arent they...
You go off to Australia and I shall bet that your hubby can do all that stuff you are claiming... LOL!
So thats why, there are Men who can do Multi-tasking as good as Women...:P
It's called "Driving" and if you aren't able to do those things then you shouldn't be on the roads.
Women are also able to drive as well contrary to popular belief, as well while resolving the depute happening in the back seat, talking on on our mobiles, applying our makeup and still able to notice the hot guy in the car next to us...
"Your born, You Live, You Die, given this premise, one can conclude since we have no control over when we are born and when we die, the only thing that matters to us should be how we live, simple really?" Mis-Cat to her philosophy Lecturer.
lol ksa, we need judges to do the scoring here ha ha ha...
Well sweetheart...yea yea yea...rant on...its just that Men dont want to do all that, the Women are there and a few things they are good at...
For that matter even Men multi - task...
For example...while driving a car which is a Manual Gear Car...
Here goes...watch closely...
The Guy is driving, he has to watch the road, watch the sides, press the clutch, shift the gear, press the brakes, pedal acceleration, put on the signal lights, amidst all this...HE NEVER FAILS TO SEE THE HOT LADY IN THE CAR BESIDE!!! LOL! What do you think of that...Darling!HMMM!!!!
way to go, mis-cat.... care to retaliate there ksa? I'll be the referee, har har har............
You know as well as I do men are next to incapable of multi tasking, I admit there are a few but they would have to be 1 in 1 million here is an example of how men can't multi task,
Hubby and I get up in the morning in the time it takes him to get himself ready, I have got the kids dressed for school, made their lunches, feed them breakfast, packed their bags made him a cuppa tea all while also getting myself ready so we can get out the door on time.....
"Your born, You Live, You Die, given this premise, one can conclude since we have no control over when we are born and when we die, the only thing that matters to us should be how we live, simple really?" Mis-Cat to her philosophy Lecturer.
a word per second
50
aboh, i am still working to be a bit faster than 5o words....
morning ksa.... lol, it was mis-cat who said it, ha haha.....you armed and ready, ksa?
wwwwwwwwwoooooooowwwwwww
except me
that's 50 words.....
Morning mjamille, and morning sweetheart Mis-Cat...whats this I see, sneak of MEN CANT DO!!!
Getting ready to rage a war I say...:P
Hows thou ladies doing...Missi-cat...whats happening sweets...long time no see...where art thou!!!
in the minute
Nah they know I'm right.....;P
"Your born, You Live, You Die, given this premise, one can conclude since we have no control over when we are born and when we die, the only thing that matters to us should be how we live, simple really?" Mis-Cat to her philosophy Lecturer.
abohmaid,...what are you trying to point out?
u should be busy
oopss, mis-cat......dont want to start a debate here, lol......just think of all the men here that will disagree with you,.. :)
you forgot to add to your description "and something that men can't do"
"Your born, You Live, You Die, given this premise, one can conclude since we have no control over when we are born and when we die, the only thing that matters to us should be how we live, simple really?" Mis-Cat to her philosophy Lecturer.
lol janey....your fingers need to be fast......
Even if I'm not multi-tasking, I still can't find the time to post just as much as you've been doing.
That is some massive multi-tasking you're doing though. LOL
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Multi-tasking - the concurrent or interleaved execution of two or more jobs...
secertary
Multi-tasking
like i said, it's all in the fingers...
but i wish have half of this time
does it bother you that i always have the time to be here? Multi-tasking, that's the key...
plz pm me what is ur job?
coz u always have a time