BestActress
林恩·阿爾科克/LynnAlcock
SamanthawasreallymyhusbandJack』sdog,ormoreaccurately,hewasherhuman.Iwastheonewhofedher,walkedherandtookcareofher,butasfarasSamanthawasconcerned,thesunroseandsetonJack.Sheadoredhim.Thefeelingwasmutual;whenshegavehimthatsoftbeagle「googly-eyedlook」,hemelted.
WelivedinaplacecalledYellowknifeintheNorthwestTerritories,threehundredmilesfromtheArcticCircle.Jackwasinthearmyandawayalot.Imanagedonmyownandwasthankfulforgoodfriends,anenjoyableworkingenvironmentand,especially,Samanthatokeepmewarmatnight.Shewouldcrawlundertheblanketsandcurlaroundmyfeet—whatbliss.
IthadbeenalongarcticwinterandSamanthahadwaitedpatientlyforthesunshineandwarmweathertocomeandwasraringtogetoutandabout.Atypicalhound,shelovedrunning,chasingrabbitsandsquirrels,andswimminginthelake.Whenthef?irstwarmdayofspringf?inallyarrivedthatyearandwewentoutforawalk,inherexuberance,Samanthaoverdidit—runningattopspeedovertherocksthatarethelandscapeinYellowknife.Bythetimewereachedthehouse,shewaslimpingquitepronouncedlyandappearedtobeinsignif?icantpain.Herinjurywasdiagnosedassprainedligaments,andshewasorderedtokeepstill:norunningforseveralweeks.Itwasnotwelcomenewsforthisbeagle.Nowshewasconf?inedtotheporchwhileIwasawayatwork,andthentookshort,quietwalksonaleashwhenIwashome.Astheweekspassed,herlimpslowlybutsurelydiminished;Iwaspleasedwithherprogress.
Duringthatperiod,JackwasawayfromMondaytoFriday.OnhisreturnFridayevenings,therewerehugsandkissesallaround,andSamanthawouldbeplasteredtohislap.Shefollowedhimeverywhereallweekend,lappinguptheattentionshereceivedbecauseofher「hurtie.」ItwascleartomethatherlimpbecameevenmorepronouncedwhenJackwasathome.
Bytheendofthesummerherlegwasallhealedandshewasbacktonormal.Sheranandplayedandchasedherballforhoursonend—duringtheweek.WhenJackcamehome,herhurtiemysteriouslycameback,andshewasplacedonthesobfortheweekendwithlotsofhugs,ablanketandtreats.
Itoldthatthiswasjustanactforhisattention.「Ofcourseitisn』t,」hesaid.「Can』tyouseeherlegisstillbotheringher?Howcomeit』snothealinglikethevetsaiditwould?」Isighedbutletitdrop.
Likemostpeople,JackandIlovetosleepinandsnuggleonSundaymorning.Wechatabouttheeventsofthepastweek,reloadourcoffeecups,chatsomemore,napandgenerallylazearound.Samanthaliesatthebottomofthebedenjoyingthisspecialtimeaswell.Eventually,wegetup,showerandheadtothekitchentostartmakingbreakfast.ItwasourroutinetocookaneggforSamantha,too.Sheusuallywaitedonthebeduntilitwasreadyandwecalledhertocomeandeat.Thatmorningwhenbreakfastwasreadystarteddownthehall,intendingtoliftSamanthaoffthebedandcarryherintothekitchenbecauseofherhurtie.
「No,」Itoldhim.「Standwhereshecan』tseeyouandwatchwhathappensnext.」