Trained Too Well
Amber was a tiny apricot poodle. She was the child that Mrs. Haley never had. The dog had been close to the old lady's side for almost ten wonderful years. Her husband barely tolerated Amber. His one firm stipulation was that he better never, ever, hear that dog bark. Mrs. Haley trained Amber well. So well trained in fact that even walking in the park, she never barked at other dogs or the squirrels that badgered all the dogs. The dog was mute, so Mr. Haley had no reason to evict the poodle from the house. Amber sensed the importance of the rule, she never broke it.
The elderly couple enjoyed having company call. A few drinks, good conversation, tastefully prepared dinners with guests they knew well. Amber was always locked away in the library where she would watch anxiously for the door to open. She would have preferred being with her mistress, that was not allowed.
On a cold fall evening, Amber was asleep in her bed in the library. A dinner party was being held. The guests had had a few drinks too many. Someone opened the library door, allowing Amber to creep out to find her beloved person. The front door stood wide open, people coming and going. Perhaps her person was out there. The poodle calmly walked outside, looked around, not seeing Mrs. Haley, she returned to the house. The large door was shut. She waited while the wind grew strong, rain fell, she was shivering from cold and fear. When thunder suddenly boomed followed by a wicked flash of light, she ran. Across the lawn, down a road, over a busy highway, into an alley where it smelled so strange.
The rain pelted her until she stood dripping. She spotted a small building in a children's playground. It offered protection from the rain. Miserable, she curled into a ball, wanting her person to come and get her.
Sometimes during that long night, she heard her name called. Different voices, but she wasn't allowed to bark. She waited, expecting them to see her. She was colder than she had ever been, and more frightened than any small dog should be. A whimper couldn't be held back. She heard her name called by Mr. Haley. He had never spoken to her before. Amber wanted to go home. Gathering her courage she managed one short bark. It startled her. But Mr. Haley heard. He headed in her direction, calling, "Amber, Amber show me where you are, talk to me Amber." She barked again, while taking a few steps into the open where he could see her.
He saw the bedraggled little thing, picked her up, tucking her away inside his coat. He smelled strange to her, his hands were different. She gave his face many tiny kisses while he held her close. "How could I have been so stupid, as to insist that you never bark," he groaned. "I love my wife beyond words, she is heart sore without you Amber." When he reached his home, he hurried inside to the library where his wife was holding one of Amber's toys. Tears were streaming down her face, she had been so careful of her baby dog.
He husband sat beside her. He smiled. Amber poked her head out of his coat, saw her beloved person and gave a short happy yip! She was home, in the arms of her person. Mr. Haley was a hero to his wife. Even more so when he gruffly told her that he didn't really mind if the dog made a bit of noise now and then.
Things changed in the house. Amber found her voice. Mrs. Haley beamed at her husband, loving him even more. Mr. Haley learned that tiny happy dogs are amusing. Best of all, when company came, she was allowed to stay with her beloved person. Amber was taught a new trick. Speak! She used it well.
