The time came
for me to leave the farm. I was off to college. Tooter never did
accept this well. He drooped around, his spirit gone, searching for
me each day in all the old places. On the rare occasions when I got
to hitchhike home for the weekend, Tooter always spotted me coming
when I was still a speck in the distance. He would suddenly regain
his “world class” speed, and a rough and joyous reunion resulted
as we ran up the lane. One time, he jumped on me, our noses meeting
none too gently. Mine was the one that was bloodied. Another time, a
flying leap sent a tooth through my watch crystal. I still have that
watch. That and memories of a happy time are his legacy. With long
periods of depression and separation and short, joyous reunions, my
freshman year passed. Then I was home for the summer, and all was
well in our world.
One summer
morning, I was awakened at dawn by a loud commotion in our yard.
Wiping the sleep from my eyes, the sight before me sent a chill
through me. Two large wolves had Tooter, one on each end, stretching
him out. When I yelled, they dropped Tooter and ran. Tooter chased
one, caught him, and grasping him by the throat, began to squeeze the
life from it. I grabbed Tooter, pulling him back. The wolf shook
loose, and quickly melted into the woods.
During the next
few days, Tooter seemed to be slowly recovering. One morning as he
leaped from a load of cattle feed in our truck, he yelped in pain. He
moved slowly to the porch, lying down, and soon was unable to get up.
I carried him to the cool cellar. He wouldn't eat. As I checked on
him throughout the night, he became weaker. At daylight he was gone.
That day I buried him in a grave under the Persimmon tree overlooking
the valley and the mountains we had roamed together so many times. I
spent the afternoon cutting his name in a large flat rock that I
placed at the head of his grave. Tooter had come to me when we were
both very young. He had seen me through my growing up years as my
constant companion and best friend. His job was done. Now I am a man.
I must go on alone. Thanks for reading!
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