Dog and Girl by Shannon Barber

It is late at night and he can’t sleep. He lays with Girl in her big warm bed. Girl smells good. Flowers, salt, human hormones and happiness; he can smell the good bright smells when he nestles his big square head against her soft belly. Girl is warm and snoring, he closes his eyes and listens to the rumblings inside, he is proud that she trusts him with her soft vulnerable belly.

He knows he is dog, he knows he is Boo Boo. He knows he was not the favorite puppy in his litter. Girl had been the only one to make the happy sound when she saw him, he remembers Girl bringing him to home and she howled in joy with him.

Boo Boo knows he is very large, he often stands at her side with his head up and his chest out. Boo Boo is proud to be big. He is strong, he is smart. Girl moves and he opens one eye, sometimes when she sleeps she makes sad dark sounds.

He is a Good. Dog.

Girl quiets and Boo Boo settles. With his eyes closed he remembers when she dropped her food bag and he helped pick up the scattered things. He remembers with a good feeling how she smiled at him and laughed when he picked up an orange and accidentally bit into
it. The taste had startled him; the smell was big, oily and sweet. 

Boo Boo sighs. Girl wakes up and rubs his ears the way that makes him feel loved and safe.

“Good boy.”

Boo Boo settles.  The words Girl speaks make him feel good in his heart. He answers with his low grumbling voice, her eyes are happy when he meets them. Girl makes the happy sound and Boo Boo feels good. Her eyes close again with her warm fingers caressing his ear, he lays
his head back down to smell her nighttime good sleep smell. 

He will sleep and dream.