Knowing

Coming out of my garage I see this guy moving toward me
with a dog on a leash.

The dog can barely walk and looks to be on his last legs.

Stopping in front of my stairs the dog limps up to me.

Gently petting his head, I say to the owner, "Beautiful animal!
Looks pretty old!"

"He's very old!" he responds. "We basically grew up together!"

Hearing this, I begin to feel sad as I continue to pet his head,
reflecting that he’s not going to be around much longer.

Before heading up my steps, I say to him, "You're a lucky man to have grown up with such a wonderful friend!"

"Yes," he responds, giving me a knowing look. . .

back to issue

Jeffrey Zable is a teacher and conga drummer who plays Afro Cuban Folkloric music for dance classes and Rumbas around the San Francisco Bay Area. His poetry, fiction, and non-fiction have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines and anthologies. Recent writing in MockingHeart Review, Remington Review, Ink In Thirds, Third Wednesday, Awkward Mermaid, Soft Cartel, The Bitchin' Kitch, Rosette Maleficarum, and many others. In 2017 he was nominated for The Best Of The Net and The Pushcart Prize.