The first time I met him he was walking out of his garage. He didn’t seem too pleased to see me coming up unannounced, and he let me know.

He was circling around my truck before I even had time to open the door. To say he was vocal would be an understatement. I assumed he was about to bite my head off.

I had been warned that he was a cantankerous old man. White hairs sprouted from his chin and he kinda walked sideways due arthritis.

I’d heard he was known to intimidate anyone that came close to his place, but he certainly didn’t mind wandering up and down the street in front of his home.

Though he didn’t own a vehicle he could certainly cover some ground.

Oddly enough he and I became friends. One can never have too many friends. His name was Jack, but I called him Jackson. He seemed to like that moniker I tagged him with.

He had the peculiar habit of stepping on my foot when looking me in the eye. If it had been anyone else I would have pushed them back and said something. But Jackson was special. Unique to say the least.

Sometimes he’d go to say something and his jaw would quiver. He just couldn’t get it out. But I understood. Friends don’t always have to use their words to communicate, do they.

It became evident over the last few months that he wasn’t doing well. Cataracts, arthritis, hearing problems. It’s hard getting old and Jackson was old.

One of his favorite things to do was go hunting, but those days were well behind him. He no longer had the stamina.

Recently when I went to see him he had to be coaxed to come out of his house. His body was failing him and all he wanted to do was lay around.

I saw him for the last time Sunday. He struggled to walk up the hill to see me, but when he reached me, as usual, he stepped on my foot and looked into my eyes.

Then he turned around and leaned into me. It was his way of giving a hug. After a moment he tired and sat down on my foot.

He did that sometimes.

I rubbed him behind his ears. He always loved that. Then I placed my hands on each side of his face and stared into his eyes. His jaw began to quiver as it often did when he was at a loss for words.

I believe he knew it was going to be the last time we’d ever see each other again.

I just sat there holding him and rubbing the top his head, speaking, but without words.

He knew what I was saying because he tucked his head and leaned into me with all his might.

He was lying down when I had to go, but he was keeping an eye on me.

I turned and said, “Goodbye Jackson.”

His tail flopped up and down a couple of times. He was too tired to stand.

They say there’s a rainbow bridge animals cross over when they leave earth. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but if there is my buddy Jackson made that journey late yesterday.

I hope he meets my good friend Spanky. I think they’d hit it off just fine. Perhaps there’ll be a lot of squirrels to chase there. And maybe there will be a few mailboxes to mark.

There has to be. It’s doggie heaven after all.

_______________
Rick Algood
September 27, 2022