Twice Shy

Twice Shy

      

 

 

     Dogs have always found me a good smell. Big ones, little ones, spoiled or homeless they all like me. They can tell I'm a fan so they follow me everywhere and as a result I think only the best of them... much to my detriment.

 

     A case in point... a couple of months or so ago I was in Riverside looking for a stubborn water leak. There was no outward sign of water anywhere... the toilets didn't leak... no drips from bath or kitchen faucets... no puddles on the ground ... no weeds conspicuously growing in one small area in a vast dirt yard and yet the meter was spinning like a top.

 

     I was stumped. It had to be under the building, it was the only logical explanation left.

 

      Lost in my head in the effort of solving this little problem,  I leaned over the four foot chain link fence for a closer look without any thought of self preservation. Without so much as a hint to his existence I was instantly met with a 95 pound pit bull charging straight for me.

 

      I was stunned as the brute jumped into the air in an effort to get to me, lunging for my throat.   I jerked back, suddenly overcome by panic.

 

     Time seemed to slow to a stop as the beast's hot breath and spittle washed over my face and I turned away. To my shock, in that instant, its teeth grazed my neck.  Relief and  terror filled me simultaneously as its mouth snapped closed on my chest, ripping my shirt and skin alike.  Before I could react to the sudden gush of blood soaking me the monster shook its head tearing my flesh with unbelievable ease, filling me with its true intent and pain.

 

     Then after a couple of weeks with a new shirt and a dozen stitches I found myself in  Rialto repairing a broken water line.  Upon finishing I had gathered up my tools and made for my truck. No sooner had I closed the gate and stepped out into the street when a man shouted....  "Cujo !"

   

     I froze in place.

 

     "Cujo !" he screamed a second time.

 

     I looked about wildly but saw nothing.

 

     "Cujo !" he screamed again and began to run in my direction. "Mister, my dog... look out for my dog !"

 

     My heart jumped in my chest as I frantically looked about and then suddenly it came... the jiggling sound of a dog tag.  With the all too familiar sound filling the air my head was crammed with the memory of my earlier experience and my stitches ached.

 

    "No, Cujo, no !" the man screamed and ran all the faster toward me.

 

    I couldn't move... there was nowhere to hide. I was frozen in place as if bolted to the ground.

 

    Then, to my shock, from around the front of my truck the creature appeared.... a toy Chihuahua no bigger than your average kitten.

 

    "It's my wife's dog. The damn thing runs away every time the door's open...  I was afraid you wouldn't see him and would run the little b*****d over," he explained as he adjusted the tiny creature's spiked collar.   "My wife would kill me if anything happened to him."

  

    It’s true what they say... “Once bitten, twice shy.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Vectra Mendonie]

I really liked this story. It seemed like someone was just telling me a story that happened to them instead of a tale you would just read. (I mean this in a good way) It was friendly and the end was funny. Good job!

[Lonely Scorpio Girl]

Congratulations on winning the 'Tickle Me Funny' contest!

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you for your submission. My review remains in my head until the closure of the contest. :)

[Angi]

Ha! I love little dogs named, 'Cujo!' I would have freaked out, too. I was bitten on the face by a huge mutt when I was a teenager. His canine made a clean cut straight through my lower lip. I have always had a sense of caution after that. Even after that, I am a dog lover and own two. A beagle and a mutt of some kind. They are my heart. Nicely done! Angi~

[Will Neill]

My little terrier turns into a savage beast everytime the door bell rings-he has no teeth. The bark is worse than the bite. Nice little story.
Will

[Samuel Dickens]

Yep. I'd be a bit unnerved, too, in that situation. This made me think of the time I was working on a motorcycle in my driveway, turned my head and saw an enormous black beast just inches from my face. Turned out it was a Newfoundland--one of the friendliest dogs on the planet.

[C]

A well done, short story.

[Naomi Bloom]

"My wife would kill me if anything happen to him." I think here you should instead say ""My wife would kill me if anything happened to him."

Very interesting and scary story and great description of being bitten by a pitbull. Did this actually happen to you?

[Wendy Seames Garner]

You have to watch out for those little dogs, Tegon, they can be vicious!

[Craig2591]

Amusing story and well told.

[Tegon Maus]

Hi Craig... Thanks for the read. Please send something you would like to share and I will return the favor !

[Craig2591]

Please feel free to read any of the chapters from my book, "Not Your Usual Love Story". I tried to write each chapter as a short story so it doesn't really matter where you start. Thanks!