I bring him to the backyard without checking it first, and send Maxine scrambling. Baxter doesn't even notice her. While I walk to the upper level to coax her out of the bushes he pees on the wooden bench. Opportunity missed! The women at the pet store said to "give him a party" everytime.
But he began circling again and hallejiah, a marking. does a marking count? I decide so, praise him, proffer a duck heart. he's pleased, tail up and wagging. he likes the duck hearts. smart boy, he goes back and marks again. Party! More praise, a duck heart, a neck scratch. Tail up. Then a dribble against the wall. Duck heart party! I'm not sure he understands, but we are having fun.
I lie down on the decking. He sits beside me, and I don;t move. i don't want to scare him. he seems to like the feel of the sun. probably not me. but it feels good, this creature, not exactly serene, but for a moment not scared.
he looks down, long wet sniff on my nose and lips. It's a kiss, I'm sure of it. Then he lies down, puts his head on my shoulder. I have a duck heart party in my heart. I feel his clammy breath on my cheek. i close my eyes. it's so quiet. the sun is shining but it's not too hot. I think he may be figuring out the differene between outside and inside.
He climbs the stone steps and sits and a breeze kicks up and suddenly the cherry blossoms are falling. He sits there nose up, mesmerized, not quite understanding, but knowing it's okay, like a child in her first snow.
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