Never Enough - Silver Burney

Never Enough

“I can’t get over the way it smells in here”

Mary just rolls her eyes “Get over it Rex, he has been here for one day, there is no way he has stunk up this whole apartment.

I knew she was just trying to defend the poor dog because it did, in fact, already smell terrible. This was the first stench ever in our penthouse apartment ever.

Mary was always the first one to be on a dog’s side. She had such a loving heart for animals. This is one of the many reasons I fell in love with her as well as the reason I was in this predicament.

See it all started last night when Mary and I went on a double date with Rex and Rachel to dinner and to see some RomCom the girls had been ranting about all week. I didn’t want to go stating that I should be working but Mary insisted. We of course had to take Rex’s new lifted F350 his parents had bought him. My twelve-year-old Honda Civic was rarely the means of transportation if any other vehicle was available.  He always had the most dubious luxuries seeing as his dad was an oil king in South Texas making all my possessions look almost obsolete. I was just living with him since parents didn’t want him living alone in college and the rent was free for me.

As we were walking back talking about the few funny lines that the movie entailed, we saw the situation. A pathetic brindle puppy was lying under Rex’s truck. As we coaxed the little guy to come out from hiding we could see that he was extremely malnourished. Every rib exposing itself as to tell of the hardship the pup had experienced. I knew as soon as I looked at Mary’s face that we were going to have to take this stray in and help him.

Rex was very resistant to letting this wet; stinking dog in his new truck or back to our place but Mary insisted that I talk him into allowing it. He finally complied but with the stipulation that “He’s y’all’s problem, got it. And he damn sure ain’t staying long. I mean it”.  I understood and was actually shocked at his leniency.

He was very timid and sweet, seeming thankful for our hospitality. As soon as we got back to the apartment we poured Flaco some milk and fed him some left over steaks that Rex had cooked earlier that week for one of our monthly soirees.

Mary decided we were going to name our new little friend “Flaco” because it was Spanish for skinny. This was no surprise to anyone because Mary always called everything by her native tongue. Mary came from a successful cattle operation down near the Frio River.  This is wear she probably acquired her beautiful sun kissed skin. All of my friends, including Rex, would constantly go on and on about how gorgeous she was but to me, she was just mine.

Now that Mary and Rex are over their little tiff this morning, they both left for class and I was stuck home with Flaco until I went to my second job in a little while. My first job had called and said that we weren’t going to be able to do any roofing today due to the sleet and snow. Some liability bullshit that just means my check was going to be shorter. My other job is at a supply warehouse that Mary’s cousin owns. I stock their inventory shelves every other night. It is a boring job but it has to be done. Making sure the shelves are never empty isn’t a difficult task but it is exhausting. Also I have an ad in the local newspaper stating that I can do any handyman jobs that one might require. This is something that consumes any spare time I may have left over after work and my classes. Mary is always on my case about how I am wearing myself out. She says I don’t really need to work so much, my bills are nearly nonexistent and I have enough. I insist that there is no such thing as enough. She doesn’t see it that way. She says my insatiable attitude is going to deprive me of enjoying what I have and that I’m never satisfied.

 I set another bowl of milk out and some sandwich meat for our new occupant. He scarfed down every speck of it in a matter of moments. His belly was swollen with all the nourishment.  Just as I lay on the couch, my phone rang. It was my mother complaining about money again. “Christmas is going to be light this year “and “Your dad is stressing about the bills” echoed in my ear as I ignored the nagging. As I rest there, zoning out the financial whoopla I watched as the dog, who was absolutely stuffed, search the apartment for more.

I thought to myself, why doesn’t he just lay down and enjoy his full belly. He’s a mutt in the penthouse apartment with a bed that Mary made for him with Rex’s old duvet cover he was going to throw away because he spilled something on it. I laughed doubting there’s another dog with so much going for him.

An incoming call from someone answering my newspaper ad ended the call with my mother. They wanted me to put together a new entertainment center; I said I had time right now.  I got up threw on my old denim jacket, grabbed my keys and headed for the door.  As I went to shut the door behind me, Flaco was still sniffing every inch of the penthouse searching for any crumb that he could find.

Late that night I returned to find Mary in my room watching some romantic movie on Lifetime while Rex was in his office studying for some big exam. I asked them both about Flaco. They said they had seen him snooping around the apartment for food. They both said that they both had fed him. Mary said she stopped at the butcher for scrapes and even brought a femur bone for Flaco to enjoy. Rex had brought home a chicken breast for dinner and dropped it on the floor as he tried to open the door and carry in his cleaning at the same time. Rather than throwing it away he just fed it to Flaco. I asked where he was then, they said the only time they had seen him was when he would stroll by in search for more food.

“Still?” I questioned with a displeased tone.

I went to the lavish bed we had made him and it seemed untouched with the femur right next to it where Mary had left it. I found him out on the patio still, hunting for another bite. I was amazed at his focus. He had not stopped once to enjoy all he had been blessed with, just to find something that he didn’t even need. He had been provided with more than enough.

Mary told me that she had found a nice shelter outside of town that took in strays and replaced them in loving homes. “I made an appointment to drop Flaco off first thing in morning before you go to work.”

I was a little disappointed to hear that tonight would be the last night with him but he obviously didn’t enjoy our company. I also knew that our penthouse was no place to keep a dog and our busy schedules didn’t allow for the time and attention required for being a responsible dog owner.

The alarm goes off what seems like is moments after I had laid my head down. It’s still dark out but that isn’t anything to new to me but it was to Rex and Mary and they didn’t mind bitching about how early it was. “Well honey you were the one that made the appointment so early” I said as I laced up my work boots.

Rex said he wanted to go to see Flaco off which surprised me because he is a man that has a deep affection for his sleep. We all loaded up in his pickup and he didn’t complain once about having the dog in the there.

Pulling up to the shelter I realize that this was more appropriate place for a dog with lots of places to roam and play. The drop off didn’t take much time at all and the lady at the counter just thanked us for getting a stray off the streets. Mary gave them her email address to be updated on what happens with Flaco.

As we pull out of the drive I laugh, “You know he was treated like royalty, pampered and fed the best a dog could have been. He didn’t even stop to realize and appreciate it all”. 

As the words leave my lips I catch a reflection of myself in the window. I have dark circles under my weary eyes. I look much older than my 22 years. I look back at Mary and she smiles the biggest and most beautiful smile. I never noticed how her eyes sparkled when she smiled and how lovely she looked with her hair pulled back. I must have stared long enough to make it awkward. She pushes me jokingly and asks, “What are you looking at me like that for”? As a smile creeps across my face I say, “Hey I think I’m going to take the day off today, maybe we can just hangout or something. We should just enjoy the day, what do you think gorgeous?”