Pregnant Silence

"Utoy, are you awake?" I heard Josephine whisper.

I turned my head away from her. I could feel her wet nose gently blowing the fur from my head.

" You should not be angry at me." she continued whispering, "Uriel, the one with big hands, has a bad temper for dogs that bark in the dark...with no humans in sight."

My ears picked up. So, "Uriel" is the one that had calloused paws.

"Guinevere, the one that had small hands, will be distressed if you're missing." she added softly.

"Would you like me to tell you a story to help you sleep?" she asked.

I wanted to reply but I assumed she just wanted to make me feel better after she growled at me. I scratched my cheek.

I felt her long, black tail fan my back.

"We are from a breed of Labrador Retrievers. Our ancestors come from a place called Great Britain. We are a cross of the lesser breed of Newfoundland dogs and Bloodhounds.


We are working dogs, Utoy, do not forget that. We track what we are told to track and we help our masters retrieve their prey.

We are born to love and serve our masters...they be deserving of our affections or not. I do not know if the masters intend to let you all stay here with me or give you away, like my mother's master did to me."

I moved closer to her neck - the only place my siblings did not occupy. I could feel my sibling stir as she stretched her forelimbs.

"Does this mean we will not be together for long?" I mumbled, hoping she'll not hear.

" We won't." she said so softly, I could hardly hear it. "Once your teeth comes out and I am not feeding you, masters usually give you away."

"Will you feel sad after we've all gone?" I asked.

Josephine did not reply. Instead, she used her chin to bring me closer to her. I heard the thumping rhythm of her heart as I gradually dozed off.