Alayne left for Kansas today to visit her parents for a week. This might be the end of the world as far as old, deaf Oscar is concerned. He is Alayne’s ultimate minion — a minion’s minion, I might even say — who worships the ground she walks on and literally follows her everywhere. He can’t bear to be separated from her for a minute. And he has absolutely no use for me at all when she’s around.
(I just looked up the definition of minion: "An obsequious follower or dependent; a sycophant." It fits him perfectly.)
So if she’s not here, he’s glum. He’s down. He’s depressed. And there’s nothing stoic about his malaise, believe me. No, sir. He wants you to know just how pathetic he’s feeling. So he sits on the cushion in her office, staring out the window forlornly, waiting for Alayne to show up. He makes furtive glances in my direction, sighs, then turns back to the window. "Oh, it’s just you," he seems to be saying. I’m chopped liver.
This goes on for three days. (I’ve seen this movie before.) I rarely see him. He’s either in her office or under the covers on the bed, feeling sorry for himself.
Then, sometime during day three, he begins to realize that maybe … just maybe … Alayne might not be coming back. He starts thinking through the implications. That I might be the only meal ticket he’s got, his only defender and protector. That I’m only one who can be relied on to feed him twice a day. That I’m the only one in the house with thumbs and who can turn door handles to let him out. Maybe the guy with the beard isn’t that bad … he is dependable, after all, he’s here every day.
By the end of day three he’s beginning to look at me as if I might matter. Or at least be good for something.
On day four he begins hanging out with me. He wants to strike up a friendship. He checks out where I am. Shows actual interest in me. "Why, Oscar, it’s the new you!," I say to him, not fooled for a second.
By day five he’s my best buddy. I have a minion of my own now. Who knew?
Then, at the end of the week, Alayne will drive up, walk into the house, and Oscar rushes from my side. He goes nuts. He jumps up and down at her feet, barking, tail wagging, it’s the happiest day of his life (again). "See, she came back, I just KNEW it!!!"
And I’m chopped liver again. I go over to kiss my wife hello and Oscar gets between us, looks up at me and growls. "Grrrr!"
That, ladies and gentlemen, is how it goes.
(Click on photo for larger image.)
Rolling Dog Farm Blog 
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