by Dan Walsh
“Thanks, Tom. Means a lot to me. Know when you’ll be able to speak with him? Any chance it can happen today?”
“I’ll try and get with him this afternoon. But look, either way, you can go ahead attend that class tomorrow. Give you a chance to see if this is something you really want to do. I’m sure I can have an answer for you by the time you get back.”
“Thanks so much.” Chris reached his hand across the desk. Tom shook it. “I better get back to work.” He headed back toward his mower. As he walked, he pulled out his phone to call the lady out at the prison, let her know he’d be there tomorrow.
35
Chris had showed up to work the next morning at the usual time, 6am. He’d already mowed the rough along three holes on the golf course. Now he was back in the maintenance building putting the mower up. It was time to head over to the prison for the dog training class.
After washing up, he hung the mower key on the hook where it belonged. As he did, he heard footsteps behind him. It was Jed.
“Heard you had a talk with Tom already about the dog idea.”
“I did. Yesterday afternoon. Looked all over for you to see if you wanted to go with me.”
“Sorry. I had an appointment with my shrink. I guess your chat went okay, though. Tom said he gave you permission to go to some kind class out at the prison.”
“That’s where I’m headed now. Starts at 9:30. Are you still interested in getting one of these dogs?”
“I think so. Talked to my shrink a little about it. He said he thought it would be a good idea.”
“Want to see if Tom will let you go with me? I’m not really losing any hours. Just making the time up after three. I’m sure he’d be fine about you doing that too.”
“I don’t think so. I’m definitely interested. But that’s moving a little too quick for me.”
“I really wasn’t planning on doing anything this fast. But when I talked to the lady at the Humane Society, it turned out there’s a class going on right now. She said there were only two dogs left, and they’d probably be spoken for after today. So I figured, what the heck. Why not just go there and check it out? If it doesn’t work out with one of these two, I can just slow it down and sign up for the next round.”
“Makes sense,” Jed said. “You go on and scout out things for the both of us.”
“Alright. Well, I better get going. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.”
Amy and Finley had already gone through their now familiar morning routine. She loved how Finley faced the day. So full of enthusiasm and joy. Tail constantly wagging, facial expression set on his playful doggy-smile. He looked up at her as if to say, “Isn’t it all just so wonderful?” She wondered if part of his optimism came from not knowing what the future might bring. It must be nice to have no idea what lies ahead.
She knew, for example, that this morning there’d be another training session. She thought Finley might actually know that. If so, he’d consider it just part of a delightful routine. One more chance to be out and about, to do all kinds of drills together; he’d get to be with his doggy friends and get a steady dose of meaty treats.
But Amy’s heart was filled with dread.
Yesterday afternoon Miss Bridget told her that two more military vets would be attending today’s session. She reminded Amy that there were only two dogs left who hadn’t been paired with anyone yet. Amy had gotten the hint. Don’t do anything to jeopardize Finley’s chances to find a new home today.
Finley walked over to the hook by his cage, grabbed his leash in his mouth, came back and handed it to her. She took it and patted his head. “You don’t get it, do you boy? We only get to do this for another month. That means, I only get to see you for another month…” She thought about it a moment. It was even less than a month. Closer to three weeks now. She started choking up and blinking back tears.
She really loved it here, getting to be in this part of the prison, working in this program. But right now she wondered if she was really cut out for this. If she could really do this all over again with another dog.
Because she didn’t want another dog. She wanted Finley.
Uh-oh. Amy was upset. Finley didn’t understand why. Everything seemed to be going fine. He stopped a moment. He looked up at her then looked around the room, trying to think if there was anything he had done wrong. Nothing came to mind.
He took a step closer to her, nudged her with the leash. Maybe that would help, get her mind on the leash, on taking him for a walk. She reached down and grabbed it. He immediately let go and headed for the door. It seemed to work. She wiped her eyes and stood. Now she smiled.
“Okay Finn, you win. I’ll take you out before the class starts, so you can go the bathroom. Might do me some good to get some fresh air.”
She came toward him and clipped on his leash. They walked down the hall, through the main room, then outside. Finley saw Charlie all the way on the other side of the yard. He strained at the end of his leash, trying to give Amy a signal. She gently pulled back and went in a different direction, off toward the side.
“I see him,” she said. “We don’t have time to play this morning. Class starts in a few minutes. I’ll let you and Charlie hang out after we’re through.”
Finley didn’t know what she said. He heard Charlie’s name, but the direction she was leading him made it clear she was saying no to his request. He put his nose to the grass and decided to focus on what he’d come out here to do.
At least she seemed to be in a better mood.
Fifteen minutes later, all the inmate-trainers and their dogs were in the main classroom. All the extra chairs along the walls had been filled by the veterans who’d come to take part in the training. One by one, they linked up with the dogs they had already been paired with; all except for Amy and Finley and one other trainer and her dog.
There were still two veterans present who Amy didn’t recognize. These must be the new guys Miss Bridget had mentioned. Sure enough, both of the men were eyeing Finley and the other dog. They seemed nice enough. Neither one of them gave her the creeps. But neither of them stood out to her in a good way, either.
She wondered if she should walk over and introduce herself, and Finley. The other girl already had. Amy looked down at Finley. He hadn’t even noticed them. Not exactly the beginnings of something wonderful.
But then the front door opened. Another guy walked in wearing a denim long sleeve shirt like a light jacket, over a burgundy-colored T-shirt. Definitely a new guy. He wore jeans that were a slightly darker shade of denim. He had blondish-brown hair. Amy guessed he was about her age, give or take a few years.
He looked around the room, taking everything in. The door closed behind him. He stood in the doorway a few moments, then Miss Bridget saw him and walked over to him. She extended her hand and introduced herself. Amy stepped a few feet closer to listen. Finley sat beside her.
“Hi, Captain Cummings. My name’s Chris Seger. I believe Kim Harper at the Humane Society talked to you about me. I left a voicemail on your phone last night.”
“Hi Chris. I remember you and your phone message. And you’re right, Kim did talk to me about you. I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Me, too. I was told there are still two dogs left. That still the case?”
“It is right now,” Bridget said softly.
“So, what do I do?” Chris said. “From here, I mean.”
“Well, why don’t you have a seat? We’re about to get started. You might have heard, there are two other veterans here, who are also interested in getting a dog.”
“Are they here?” Chris said, softly.
Miss Bridget nodded.
“How’s that work?” Chris said. “I mean, if all three of us want a dog, but there are only two left?”
“If that happens, then all three of you will get a dog. One of you will just have to wait till the next round. But we start the classes up almost immediately after one closes, on graduation day. That’s
less than a month from now.”
“I see. How will you decide which one has to wait? Do you flip a coin or something?”
“No, nothing like that. The most important thing is that the dog and the vet are a really good fit. Sometimes they just click, and the decision becomes obvious. Sometimes a dog will pick out a person, like they instinctively know they’re supposed to be together. We don’t try to force those things. But don’t worry, there’s no hurry. Let’s just take it slow. In a minute, I’ll call the class together. But before that, I’ll point out the two dogs to you, so you know which ones are still available.”
“Great,” Chris said. “I really appreciate your help.” He looked at the row of chairs and spotted an empty one at the end.
He hadn’t noticed Amy yet. As he and Miss Bridget talked, she’d stood a few feet away. There were a couple of dogs and trainers between them.
But she had definitely noticed him.
She looked down at Finley. Finley had noticed him, too. His eyes were still glued on this newcomer, following him as he walked past the others and sat down. Finley looked up at her, then back at this vet. His tail began to wag. He was even leaning a little bit towards the man, as if he wanted Amy to take him over there.
She had never seen him act this way before, about anyone.
36
As Amy stood there holding Finley’s leash, Miss Bridget turned and saw her. “Oh, Amy. I was just talking about you. See that young man who just sat down there on the end? Could you go introduce yourself and Finley? And while you’re there, point Benny out to him. I’ll go make sure the other two vets know who Finley and Benny are.
“Sure, Miss Bridget. I can do that.” Amy started walking toward Chris. As soon as she did, Finley began tugging her in his direction. When she was standing in front of him, Finley sat beside her.
“Well, hello there,” Chris said to Finley. “Aren’t you a handsome boy?” He looked up at Amy. “Or is he a girl?”
“No, he’s definitely a boy. His name’s Finley.” Finley’s tail instantly began to wag. “Finley, greet.”
Finley walked up to Chris. He patted his head and scratched behind his ears. “He’s a beautiful dog.” Finley yielded happily to his touch, even began to lick Chris’s hand.
“He really seems to like you,” she said.
“Looks like a friendly dog.”
“He is,” she said, “but he’s normally not this friendly to strangers. He’s definitely giving you some special treatment.”
“Really? Don’t tell me he’s one of the dogs still available?”
“He is.” She turned and pointed toward Benny. “The other one’s over there, the brindle pit mix. His name is Benny.”
Chris looked for a moment, then fixed his gaze back on Finley. “How is it even possible that a dog this beautiful could still be available? I’d have thought he’d be the first one to go.”
“There were definitely some guys interested in him.” How could she say this next part?
“But it didn’t work out?”
“No, he just wasn’t interested in them.” She decided not to add, and neither was I. “Like I said, I’ve never seen him react this way to anyone before.”
Now Chris was massaging Finley’s shoulders. Finley was actually leaning against his leg, wearing his favorite contented look. Still looking at Finley, Chris said, “Well, I’m honored then, Finley. It’s very nice to meet you.” He looked up at Amy, extended his hand. “I’m Chris, by the way. Chris Seger.”
She shook it. It was strong, and calloused. “I’m Amy. Amy Wallace. I’m Finley’s trainer.”
“Nice to meet you, Amy. Have you trained many dogs?”
“Finley’s my first.”
“Well, you’d never know. He’s so well behaved, and you seem very comfortable with him.”
“That’s more him than me. He’s super easy to work with. Super smart and obedient, and so loving. We’re like best friends.”
“Okay everyone, let’s get started.” Miss Bridget called out. “Ladies, line up with your dogs.”
“I’ve got to go,” she said to Chris. “It was nice meeting you.”
“You too. And you, Finley. Will I get to see you again before I have to leave?”
“Sure, if you’d like. I mean, if you can stay until the end. During the last part of the class, she’ll invite the vets who are already paired up with dogs to work with them and their trainer. She’ll probably let us, and Benny and his trainer go outside by the picnic tables. You can come out with the other two veterans over there and have sort of a get-more-acquainted time. Think you can stay for that?”
“Definitely,” Chris said.
Chris watched as Amy and Finley took their place in the line of dogs and trainers. Over the next thirty minutes, he watched as a series of commands were called out. The trainers directed the dogs to respond to each one with almost military precision. It was a most impressive display. He had never seen one dog so well-trained, let alone a whole roomful.
The entire time, Chris was totally preoccupied with Finley. He was by far, the best looking dog in the room. But Chris thought it was more than that. Of all the dogs, he seemed the most attentive to his trainer, and the quickest to respond to the commands, often starting to obey as soon as the words came out of Captain Bridget’s mouth.
But there was something more. It took a little while for Chris to realize what it was.
From the first moment Finley had begun to interact with him, an almost overwhelming sense of peace and calm had come over Chris. Driving here, Chris had worried about how he would handle this new situation. Being around all of these people, all of them strangers, and in a confined space no bigger than a classroom. What if he got ambushed by a sudden panic attack? What if he wound up making a scene as he fled the premises? He might ruin his chances of ever getting a service dog.
But instead, he met Finley. And Amy. There was something also very calming about her. He’d watched a few TV shows about women in prison. She was nothing like he’d expected. There was a kindness in her eyes, a softness in her smile. Chris looked at her now as she led Finley through a sit and stay drill. She wore an orange jumpsuit, just like the women on the TV shows. Her hair wasn’t styled, and she wore no makeup. But she was pretty in her own way. She could be downright beautiful if given half a chance.
Just then, she looked right at him. He was embarrassed and quickly shifted his gaze to another dog and trainer. What was he thinking? She wouldn’t be interested in someone like him, and he certainly was in no condition to start a relationship. Besides that, where could it go? She was in prison.
He wondered, then, what she had done. It had to be a felony of some kind. This wasn’t the county jail.
After what felt like a safe amount of time, he looked back at Amy and Finley. This time, he focused more on Finley. Chris loved the way he held his head up high as he walked. Such confidence and dignity. Looking at the wall clock, he wondered how much longer before these drills would be over? Before he’d get an opportunity to spend some more time with them outside.
He looked down the row of chairs against the wall, all of them occupied by other veterans. Many were around his same age, some were younger and some much older. Which two were his competition? He was certain they would want Finley, too. How could they not? But there was no way they wanted him more than Chris did.
Chris heard all the trainers say the word, “Finish” firmly. He watched as Finley walked behind Amy, then come around to the other side and sit beside her. She reached down and scratched beneath his chin. He licked her fingers.
He liked Finley. A lot. He had to find a way to make this happen.
37
Finley could tell, the training class was over. His eyes focused on Amy. She always seemed to know what came next. The other dogs and trainers mingled in the center of the room with the men who’d been sitting in the chairs along the wall. He didn’t recognize all the men but some were becoming familiar. If not by sight, then by
scent.
He looked up at the new man, the one who’d come in just before the class began. He liked this man instantly, although he didn’t know why. Finley had looked at him off and on as they trained. Every time he did, the man was looking at either him or Amy. And he was always smiling.
When he and Amy had talked before, Finley enjoyed listening to his voice. It was deeper than Chaz’s, and they didn’t look anything alike, but something in the way he looked at Finley felt very familiar.
Finley detected something else in the man’s mood that reminded him of Chaz. Not the way Chaz had been in the beginning, before he’d gone away. But how he was when he’d occasionally come home from those long trips. Chaz was different then. When he’d hug Finley, especially during those last few trips, Finley could tell something was different about Chaz.
Something seemed broken.
Chaz seemed to need Finley’s comfort more than anything, and Finley was happy to help him. Chaz was everything then. Now Amy was. She loved him more than he’d ever been loved before.
“Okay Finley, let’s go outside,” Amy said. “We’ll spend some time with that nice man. And those…two other men.”
She said that last part in her quiet voice. The only word Finley totally understood was outside. It was obvious that’s where they were headed. As they neared the front door, that nice man stood and walked toward them.
“Is this the time you talked about?” he said. “When we can spend a few minutes together getting acquainted?”
“Yes,” Amy said. “I’m glad you could stay. We’ll just head outside to those picnic tables you walked by on your way in here.” She looked around the room a moment. “We’ll probably be joined by Benny, that brindle pit I pointed out to you before, and his trainer. Those two guys talking to her are the other two vets who came here today to check out the two remaining dogs.”
