Juke works during the night

February 3rd 10:07 am | Donna Sauraq Erickson

I faintly heard the familiar pitter-patter of Juke's feet on the wooden floor. He reached his nose up and nudged me from a deep sleep. I was so comfortable and warm, dreading having to have to wake up and take him out, but I pushed that thought away and opened my eyes. The numbers shown brightly from the digital alarm clock: 3:04 a.m. Jeff usually takes him out whenever this happened during the night but I decided to let him sleep.

I remembered Talon taking Juke outside to fetch a stick around 10 pm the night before and wondered why he needed to go outdoors again so soon. He waited while I got up and followed me out to the hall and the front door. I opened the door and stepped into the outer porch to open the outside door. A cold rush of freezing temperatures hit me. I felt groggy and it was a shock to my system. Just for a moment I waited for Juke to bolt past me into the darkness outdoors. I turned to look at him and he stood still in the entryway, than he slowly backed up & tilted his head with such a sad look in his eyes.

My thoughts went immediately to Logan upstairs and I felt my heart hurt as I quickly went up the stairs to Logan�s room, Juke following behind. The jingle of his metal ID on his collar, my heart beating, & blood rushing to my ears was all I heard.

In Logan�s room the TV cast a green glow from the blank blue screen. There was Logan, curled up and asleep. Next to him on the bed was his whole basketful of videotapes and his big Toy Story book. It dawned on me that he had fallen asleep looking through his videos. The empty basket lay on its side on the floor. Logan looked so cold.

I quickly gathered up the tapes and put them in the basket while Juke stood by the bed, watching. He waited patiently for the command "jump".

"Jump!" He jumped onto the bed and curled up next to his boy. I covered Logan with his warm fuzzy blanket, leaned over and patted Juke on his head and whispered. "Thank you...you are such a good boy..."

Downstairs I fell back asleep and dreamt of someday Logan talking and playing and running with Juke by his side.

Donna Erickson grew up in Barrow but now lives in Unalakleet, Alaska where she stays busy with raising her family, being married, working, & writing stories.