Tomatillo courtesy of OpenClipArt.org. Food Truck courtesy of ClassroomClipArt.org.
Clip arts combined in Photoshop CS6.

As the little pup began his chosen adventure, he smelled several scents in the air and heard a vague sound as well. It was the sound of raindrops dancing on a window. He remembered that sound from the first night he was born. He smelled the dirt below, the leaves above in the trees. He felt the cool air of early November. Then there was a scent similar to the scent of that mushy food Mildred gave him and his siblings the day before someone took away his brother. This food did not taste as good as his mother’s milk, but it was not half bad. The scent and musical sound came from the same direction. This is easier than I thought it would be, he thought.

He started walking down the sidewalks in the direction his nose and ears called him. The scent grew stronger and the sound louder as he crossed some residential street blocks. He saw people in some of these big metal animals rolling by next to him. These people made no sense to him so far. He was better off on his own.

He turned a corner and found an even bigger street with more people in those large metal animals. Here he found the biggest metal animal of all. It had people inside and outside of it. It was the source of the sound and the smell. He made a last dash run for it as he was very hungry and thirsty now. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth and he was breathing fast.

“Look at that dog!” a lady yelled as she saw the little pup crossing the street. She looked left and right to make sure the street was clear. A car was fast approaching. She went into the street, grabbed the dog into her arms, and brought him back to safety.

Oh, no! The people got me, too! the little pup thought. I’ve come all this way, and still I got caught!

The lady went back to the front of the food truck, holding the dog.

“Look at this cute little puppy. He is so small,” she told the other people in line at Little Tomatillos food truck.

Juan, who owned Little Tomatillos with his mother Maria, saw the dog breathing heavy with his flat, wide tongue hanging out of his mouth. He was trembling in the young lady’s arms.

“He looks very thirsty,” Juan said. “I will give him some water.” Juan put some water in a paper bowl and gave it to the customer, who placed it on the ground next to the dog. The dog rapidly drank the water.

Juan grabbed some pieces of shredded chicken, placed them on a plate, and offered this as well to the lady to give to the dog. The dog ate the food as quickly as he drank the water.

“This is one hungry and thirsty dog,” the lady said. “I just can’t keep a dog though. He’s going to get hit by a car running around like this. He has no tag. I don’t know what to do with him.”

Maria shook her head as she saw how Juan was caring for this stray dog. “No dog in here,” she said quietly to him through clenched teeth. “We cannot have food and a dog in the truck.”

“It’s okay. We’ll keep him here until we find him a new home,” Juan said cheerfully to the customer.

Maria slammed her knife down on the cutting board in revolt.

“We’ll find him a good home in no time. Who can resist such a cute dog?” Juan reassured the customer.

Juan exited his food truck to take the dog from the lady and bring him back inside with him. He placed another bowl of water for the dog on the floor in the truck. The little dog lapped at the water and then ran around Maria’s and Juan’s legs. He danced up on his hind legs and held on at times to the metal cabinets and Maria’s and Juan’s legs.

Maria was outraged. “How am I going to cook with this dog here? We barely have room to walk in here. What were you thinking, Juan? We do not sell dogs, we sell food.”

“I could not let this dog die in the street,” Juan said. “I will find him a home today.”

“You better,” Maria insisted.

Why is everyone trying to find me a home? the little pup wondered. I can find my own home.

Question: If your safety was 100% assured, what place would you like to visit? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Click here to read the third and last part of this story titled Calypso Chooses Amy.