Brownie

When I awoke the sun was shining in the east window of the barrack sending its rays half way across the building. It was going to be a beautiful day. The sailors that had stumbled into the barrack late last night were gone already and so was Slim. They all had made my acquaintance at some time or another and would stop and scratch my ears and make a fuss over me. It had been four days since my accident and I had spent a good part of the days and nights sleeping and letting my body heal its wounds. Now, I was feeling much better and anxiously awaiting Slims return with my breakfast. With some effort I stood up being careful not to put much weight on my left hind leg. There was still water in my bowl from yesterday so I took a long drink. Slim had found some bowls and a mat at the commissary the day of the accident and he brought me breakfast and dinner from the mess hall every day. He also carried me outside in the grass behind the barrack so that I could answer nature’s calls. It was 6:30 a.m. and I was getting restless. I was used to wandering by myself around the Camp exploring and living up to my reputation of a bum and begger. Now things were suddenly different. It had not taken me long to bond with the man that had taken care of me when I had the accident. Slim was different from the young bucks that were stationed here. For one thing, he was much older and had gray hair. He was a gentle man, but when he spoke, he spoke with Authority. I felt that sticking with him would be a good thing. With him around I wouldn’t have to go begging at the mess hall. As these thoughts were going round in my head, I heard footsteps out side. The screen door opened and Slim entered with a paper plate and my breakfast. After I was finished eating he carried me outside and after my morning toilet, I spread out in the grass. I tried to roll around but with the cast on my leg that didn’t work too well. I had to be satisfied with hopping around on three legs. Slim had bought a halter and a long leash and told me that he was going to let me stay outside all day since the weather was so nice. He brought out my bowl of water and he told me he would be back later in the afternoon after drill. It was going to be a long day. There would be a lot more long days ahead as I recuperated and healed and watched Slim leave in the morning and wait as patiently as I could for his return later in the afternoon. Being tied up was not my nature but I did try to get used to it. Besides that, my leg was beginning to itch inside the cast and I started to tear at the wrap and it wasn’t long until I had made a mess of it. When Slim returned there wasn’t anything he could do but remove it the rest of the way. The next few days I was able to stand on three legs and put some weight on the other weak one. Then eventually I could walk on all four legs and I was able to make a couple of runs chasing a ball. I had made a remarkable recovery. The fellows in our barrack had every other night out and they would dress up in their Navy Blues and visit Ventura and Los Angeles and liven up the towns. One night Slim went with them and they ended up at the Hollywood Canteen where movie stars moved from table to table asking about home and family. Some of the guys got to dance with the girls. When they got back Slim showed me a post card with autographs on the back of Joan Fountaine, Fred McMurray, and June Lang, famous movie stars. After three more weeks suddenly things changed. The calendar said June 9th 1943. There seemed to be a flurry of activity going on around all the barracks. There was no marching around the field and the sailors were making trips to the Commissary to get supplies. When they returned they started packing their duffle bags with all their gear including the toothpaste, shaving cream and cigarettes that they had just purchased. Slim was sitting on the edge of his bunk looking off into space deep in thought. I went up to him, sat up on my behind side, and put my paws on his knees. “What am I going to do about you, Brownie? I don’t have time to find you a home, and they don’t allow dogs on the ship.” Slim sat on the bunk for several more long minutes and then said, “The heck with the rules, Brownie. You are going with me.”