A Boy and his Dog - International Prose

if the boy wasn’t armed with his small calibre rifle
he would throw a stone to see what type of game
the dog had detected, in this instance nothing took to flight
and so the boy concluded a burrowing animal or a snake
but adventure was today’s pursuit.

the boy had heard of a deserted cabin by a lake
said to be haunted and so had set off to find it
and hopefully encounter a disembodied spirit or ghost
a young boy’s curiosity is stronger than his fear
at this pubescent age.

after half a day’s journey the boy and his dog
arrived at the lake, deep and brooding with a faint mist
hovering just above the water,
but no sign of a cabin on any shore tho he thought it must be hidden
in the bushes but now it’s time for a late lunch

the boy fumbled through his backpack and withdrew
a brown paper bundle nicely wrapped and tied with string
the dog knew the familiar sounds of unwrapping paper
which promised food, the boy always shared his food with his dog
though the lad had taught the dog to stand erect on its back legs
begging for food, though the dog would have thought nothing of it
other than a learned game it could play with its master.

up it went to catch food accurately aimed at his mouth
after which the boy would call it back and share his food
with the now relaxed dog.

with belly full the boy laid back in the grass and fell
asleep aware that if danger approached the dog would
awaken him.

the boy slept longer than he anticipated with his dog
nestled comfortably beside him untroubled but guarding
his master all the same.

only two hours daylight remained when the boy awoke
so he thought it best to return home though
the last few miles would be in darkness
but no matter as the boy would be in familiar territory.

as he grabbed his pack and swung about to return home
a shinning, reflected flash caught his eye,
the angle of the sun had changed since he arrived.

curiosity got the better of him and he decided to investigate
in the direction from where the reflection issued.

after a few strides his dog hesitated with a whine,
c’mon, the boy commanded his dog
the dog was slow to respond but remained alert as if
he was stalking game, the boy called again and the dog
moved close to his side as they approached the bushes
and sure enough, the boy could see an abandoned shack
through the trees with broken window fragment
in the corner of the frame which must have been responsible
for the reflection of the late afternoon sun

the boy headed for the cabin, however, his dog hesitated, whined
and yelped a high-pitched bark, c’mon dog there’s nothing to fear
so together they approached the door-less, overgrown cabin

the boy peered tentatively inside, the dog some distance behind

the inside only contained a table, long bench by the wall
and two broken chairs, the dog refused to enter
and began barking loudly in alarm.

the boy entered as the light was sufficient to see everything clearly.

this cabin has been unoccupied for years, the boy thought, though
the bench-top remained smooth and clean to the touch, which touch
of the bench-top produced an intoxicating fatigue in the boy
who was ready to lift the top of the bench to see what was inside
but the sudden fatigue prevented him.

the boy overcome with this strange fatigue
reclined on the bench and sank into a deep sleep

to be continued ....