Even the most young and irresponsible Russian scolds me when I tell them I don’t lock my door. I shrug and say something evasive. They give up, eventually.So, the gnarled and cold looking man who just punched me in the face in my kitchen shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise. But, surprise is sown into the word “punch.”
What is more surprising however, is the bloody foot sitting in front of my face when I finally open my eyes again, head aching.
Belly, M’s dog, sits in front of me, giving me a parental look. I back away from Belly and the foot. It’s still in its boot, a bouquet of cracked bones and shredded skin.
“Did you?” I look at the foot, then at Belly.
“I did, and I don’t have much time.”
I back further away. “What the hell?”
“I ate him, so I can talk for a short time, that’s how it works.”
“How what works?” I say, unable to stop looking at the foot.
“Life, fool!” Belly snaps.
“Now, I have some things I need to say, while I can,” Belly begins.
“But,” I try.
“Hush, you may ask questions if there is time. I have some things you need to hear.”
I nod, mostly at the foot.
“You know this sound?” Belly makes a moaning sound I’ve heard countless times.
I nod.
“Yeah, you know. It means I need to go out, so, take me out. You always seems so surprised when I pee on the floor, well, now it’s your own fault.”
I nod, slowly. Belly makes the sound again.
“That sound,” he says, “got it?”
“Yeah, got it.”
“Good, and when I bark, give me some damn food. And not those rabbit turds, give me something good. You’re always cooking those damn soups. Give me a bone. Okay? When I bark, it means I want a bone.”
“I—but,”
“No buts!” Belly snaps.
“You could choke on it, it’s bad for you!” I manage.
Belly raises an eyebrow. “Coming from the apartment of pack-a-day smokers. I’ll take the risk. And also, stop bringing tall men over, I don’t like them, they frighten me.”
Belly said the last part with a hint of shame. I look at the foot and then back at him. I decide it’s best not to argue.
Belly looks to be thinking.
I hesitate, then ask, “is that all?”
“I believe so, okay, you may ask a question.”
I look at the foot, then back to Belly. “What the hell is going on?” I burst out.
Belly sighs, “dogs take on the attributes of anything we eat. Why do you think they’re always putting down any of us who even nip at a human being? Why do you think some people are always saying how smart their dog is?” Belly chuckled, darkly. “If they only knew; people go missing all the time, you know?”
I try to chuckle with him, nervously. I choke on it.
“I—“ Belly begins, then coughs.
“Crap, it’s fading. Leave the foot!” he manages, before falling silent. He begins looking around the kitchen, curious. He looks down at the foot. He picks it up in his mouth greedily and dashes off.
Shaking, I stand. I look out of the kitchen to see Belly in the corner of the living room. He is trying to bury the foot in the carpet with his nose.
Flash-365 
I love this!
LikeLike
I enjoyed your post… Love it. 👍
I hope you like my post http://wp.me/p8g2rs-4k
LikeLike
Yeah I think if there was one criticism of your stories it was the lack of a speaking role for Belly. 😉
An innovative and wonderful piece of writing, flash365, thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I guess I’ll have to start feeding him more humans….but who? hmmm. If you liked this one though, you should check out Tom Edison’s Shaggy Dog by Vonnegut. That more or less inspired this story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was in tears laughing when Belly called him a fool! He needs to be in more stories. Love him lol
LikeLiked by 2 people
He will certainly show up again. He is too much fun to write about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been away for a bit. Caught up now. You’re still steaming away. Bravo! Love the image of a bouquet of bone and shredded flesh, with a boot as vase. Crisp, clean prose, as always. You rock! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m happy to see that others appreciate my brand of humor. Cheers.
LikeLike
Your stories are great. Don’t ever stop writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Until my fingers break, or my soul, I will.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are brilliant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, thanks, I’m glad you liked it. I am sure this is the case. I wanted to add that dogs are always going after cats because they are like a dose of xanax, but I couldn’t fit it in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s why…
Lol!
LikeLike
Great stuff! The chalk work or paintings are great too!
LikeLike
This has a very interesting note – reminds me of shades of the novel Fifteen Dogs by the Canadian writer André Alexis. Don’t know if you’ve read it – but if this kind of adventure with dogs catches your fancy, you might want to consider it.
Great story 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read it, but, I trust you, I will download it. (Hard to find english books in Russia.) This story was actually a bit inspired by a story I read years ago called ‘Tom Edison’s Shaggy Dog’. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend. I’m glad you liked this though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure you’d find Fifteen Dogs worth it – never mind the listings for awards and all – and it’s available for download; the story is fascinating – and ranges the emotional gauntlet from scathing and cruel to sad and humourous.
I’ve just done a quick search and I’m definitely going to get to it – I love(d) (I presume I still do) Vonnegut.
thanks for the tip … and really, so you are really in Russia. How interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha yes. I live in St. Petersburg
LikeLiked by 1 person
well no wonder there is a certain real and gritty feeling to these stories …. they sound like things that pop into my head – hearing stories from family, about having lived in Europe (not Russia, but other Eastern European countries) and it’s just kind of comforting – with a wild twist (your stories).
And I’ve found a PDF file with Vonnegut’s story – so I’m good to go!
LikeLike
Haha! Dogs.
LikeLike