This is from a previous prompt; I so appreciate these cool inspirations. I need, though, to quit procrastinating and get back to my very first murder mystery. My lack of experience is a bit of a pickle, but I love pickles, sometimes sweet, sometimes sour.

Anyway…

My instinct is to give the obvious response, to understand how much I love her. However, Dolly-Anna is quite aware, and I am convinced the feelings are mutual.

What I really wish is that I could make her understand how much I yearn to know her thoughts, to ask that she find ways to lessen the language and species barrier. She already lets me know when her water dish needs filling, or when it is time to get back to the task at hand. She knows her human gets quite lost in thought, so she has developed strategies to help me help her.

After work, we go straight to the kitchen, as we both know it is “that” time. I start preparing her delicious entrée when, not always but often, I get distracted. She knows exactly what she must do. She begins howling at me, and when I look at her, she looks at her dish, then back at me, as if saying, Get it together, woman!! I can almost hear her inner “Feed me, Seymour” voice.

When she wants a good pet, she comes as close to my face as she can and sits like a hairy mannequin, not moving even the slightest bit until I notice her. Sometimes, I just stare back at her, because she is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

What I wish I could make her understand is that I long to understand her, her thoughts, her frustrations, beyond my easily distracted self. I want her to humor and help her human, especially when she does not feel well. “Dear Dolly, tell me where it hurts, and what do you need? Mama wants to fix.”

When she is anxious, listening to the fireworks, I would also love for her to understand that it is loud but non-threatening. Mostly, I wish she knew that every howl, stare, and dramatic pause has already taught me something. She may never speak my language, but somehow she has managed to train me anyway.