EXCERPT FROM HOUNDED: A LOVE STORY - THE GREAT PROTECTOR







Oblivious to the breaking of dawn, Felix and Darth are crashed out in bed, when what sounds like a small bomb detonates nearby. Then another. Darth springs to the floor, his insistent, angry snarling awakens Felix who tumbles out of bed, and stumbles to the front door, where Darth, his body vibrating with fury, tail erect, is barking like a beast ten times his size. Felix opens the window in the door, peeks through, and sees a couple of neighborhood kids hurling eggs at his house. “I’m calling the cops!” shouts Felix as he pantomimes punching a number into an imaginary cellphone.

An egg sails through the window in the door, misses hitting Felix by an eyelash, and shatters on one of his bullfighting paintings. Felix pounces on the front door, throws it open, and stands there, in his underpants, ready to confront his attackers. He barely gets out of the house before an egg hits him smack in the face. He collapses in a heap, clutching his splattered face and crying, out “I’m blind!” Darth hurdles over his fallen comrade, and takes off after the boys. Through yolk-stained eyes, Felix watches his fifteen-pound protector chase down the terrified evildoers. Darth catches up with the younger one, leaps at him, and pulls down the boy’s pants with his teeth. The older kid doubles back to help his brother, but one ear-piercing bark from the dog sends him running for the hills. Darth backs away and allows them both to escape, seemingly obedient to some ancient species wisdom advising, “Don’t kill what you can’t eat.”  

Darth trots back to the house and finds Felix still slumped on the porch. Felix greets his warrior, “That was amazing! You’re a hero!” Felix pulls Darth close and buries his head in the dog’s fur, “Thank you, boy.”

“Just doin’ my job,” says Darth, as he licks the egg off of Felix’s face.



Jeffrey Pohn Author

jeffpohn@gmail.com
Based in Los Angeles, CA

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