Tigger’s Return

Avila 2008 003

Tigger’s Return
aka
Recrossing the Rainbow Bridge

I opened the car door. He ran across the parking lot,
jumped into the back seat. “Where have you been?” I asked.
He thumped his great tail, sniffed, and licked the hand I held out.

We drove back home with his head thrust between the seats,
his paw on my shoulder as he licked my ear and my face.
I pulled into the garage and let him out of the car.

He raced to the road, surveyed the neighborhood,
and drilled an invisible hole into the snow. I whistled.
He ran to the door, whimpering impatiently.

I opened it and he bounded in. “You’re home now,” I said.
He ran to the cat’s bowl, lapped some water, scoffed her kibble,
and curled up under the table in his usual place.

At night, he lies beside me, a fluffy spoon carved into
my body’s curve. Each morning he walks through the kitchen
and doesn’t make a sound. The cat bristles and hisses.

He’s sitting beside me now, head on my knee, as I type.
I haven’t told anyone that he’s back. They’d think I was mad.
It’s good to have him here even when nobody else can see him.

8 thoughts on “Tigger’s Return”

  1. Mine is Max, my shelter adopted Pekinese. I didn’t want another dog after he died. Full name was Maximillion The Great. Couldn’t believe I found that little scoundrel at the animal shelter, barely a palm full of fur, all alone in a room sized cage. They even gave me his registration papers, full blooded Peke. He was the sweetest little guy I ever had. I still miss him 15 years later.

    Love the story. Now to open the next one. Many thanks for sending them.

    Liked by 1 person

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