DOGS DON'T CRY was published on 1/13/24. It was exclusive on
June 1918. The tidal wave of WWI is about to engulf the rural French village of Bouresches, forcing two teens and their border collie to embark on a harrowing journey to an uncertain future . . .
Not all heroes have two legs
Abby
In Memory of Abby Andrews
Abby 5/15/2010 - 8/21/2022
Abby 5/15/2010 – 8/21/2022
It’s as quiet as a mausoleum today. No Abby yowling when I put my clothes on this morning, no barking when I come down from my loft, no bouncing ball or bone on the floor, no claws scurrying to meet us when we come home. That will take a while to get used to. I’d like to think Abby would want me to tell her story to you, though I have to assume a few things. Here goes:
Dogs don’t cry. Our eyes get wet with joy but not sadness. My Person, John, would tell you to allow a moment of mourning followed by a big smile at the memory of all the good times we had together.
John doesn’t know much about my life before I allowed him and Sue to take me home. My first job was herding cattle in Wyoming. My Person there died and I was sent to a shelter, and then to the one where I met John and Sue. Two families sent me back before they brought me to their home. I want you to know that my life was full of joy after that. True, I went to my safe places when they had fires in the fireplace or campfires, or rustled garbage bags, and I really didn’t like being brushed. But the start of every new day was a chance to play with my bones and balls, to herd my people, especially the little ones they called grandchildren. I got to know Tom and Kathy and Michael P. later, who also shared my joy—and they had a dog door so I could go out when I wanted to.
One of my fun projects was helping John and Sue to understand Border Collies. I won’t bore you with the details here, but I was proud to be John’s consultant on canine affairs for a novel he wrote with a dog named for me as his star. I hope he can get it published so you can see the result of our collaboration.
I had my aches and pains and stumbled from time to time when I didn’t see something all that well, but I took a long hike with Sue and Judy two days before I got sick. It wasn’t like I suffered or was sick long. John, Sue, Tom, Kathy, and Mike P brought my Yellow Bone and COVID ball (not sure why John called my spikey orange ball that) and tossed the ball to me at the hospital. Then I felt so relaxed in seeing them that I went to my last sleep. So long—thanks for your love and all the treats.
