Rowan

The Trifecta challenge this week is to use the third definition of "Ample:"

"3: buxom, portly "

Normally I try to make the challenge word a more important part of the piece than it is below, but I had something else in mind this week.  Thanks for reading.

In 2006, the man moved to live a new life with his Muse.  The house and the new life came with some accoutrements: two cats, one lithe and lean, constantly prowling; one of more ample girth, gentle and soft as a rabbit;  and a big, slobbering, male German-Sheppard mutt named after a female character in an Ann Rice novel. 

The man had never thought he would have a dog, because he was allergic; but this one came with the new life, so he decided to make the best of it.  The dog had a funny smell, licked the man’s feet when he sat in the living room, and was deathly afraid of thunder and fireworks.

The man got used to taking the dog for walks in the neighborhood, and the dog got very excited when he knew it was time to go out, and whenever the man came home.  The man grumbled a bit when they first lost the “battle for the bed,” and the dog decided he would sleep with them every night, but he grew to enjoy the bulk and warmth he brought.  The daily Claritin and frequent hand-washing to ward off allergic reactions began to seem a small price to pay.

Six years on, the dog and the man were older, and both began to show it.  Their hair began to grey, and aches and pains became common.  The dog began to have trouble getting around.  Vet visits and medication started to be de rigueur.   There were some scares, but the dog kept on walking and greeting and eating, so the man hoped he would hang on.

Last night, the dog lay down in the living room, and couldn’t get up.  The man and his Muse eschewed the bed the three of them had shared, and slept on couches and chairs.  This morning, the man carried the dog into the vet’s office, and they said goodbye.

The dog’s name was Rowan; he was a good dog, and he was loved.