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Writer's pictureKelly Tuck

Need Food for Thought? Chew on this!

* "Chew on This: Fifty-Two Inspirational Points to Ponder" is a book of inspirational short stories by Gary Brock and Kelly Tuck, and is available for purchase here!

*Words of wisdom for inspirational thought are at the end of the story!

BITE




Fido, Cujo, Bowser, and Ruff sat at the street corner waiting for Marcus to run by. Oh, how they loved nipping at his heels just as he jogged by, giving him the fright of a bite. Oh, how they loved to torment him, making his head turn this way and that, and sometimes causing him to run backwards, which was pretty funny given his knobby knees.


The dogs were elated that they had moved to this part of the county last week. It had taken no time to stake out their new territory, and Marcus soon discovered the route he had run for years was suddenly “dog turf.” Fido, Cujo, Bowser, and Ruff never imagined they would have such fun protecting their territory, and never seemed to tire from chasing Marcus, who for some reason was a glutton for their punishment. The daily chase provided a great source of entertainment for the dogs, and was definitely the highlight of their morning.


It was just about time for Marcus. Looking intently down the road the dogs lay in wait. “I think I am going to try for a little thread today,” Cujo quipped.


Bowser snorted in reply, “Well, I’m going to run up behind him and bark as loud and fast as I can; he might have to find a bathroom after I am finished!” The dogs all howled with delight.


Fido’s ears perked up. “Here he comes! Get ready.” Marcus’s thick head of white hair could be seen a quarter mile away. His headband gave him the appearance of wearing a white top hat as he ran down roadside. It was “the hair” that the dogs searched for each morning. When they saw “the hair” they knew Marcus was attached to it. The dogs crouched down ready to zoom in behind the senior citizen.


All throughout the week Marcus had been trying to figure out a way to make friends with the dogs. He did not want to change his running route, but those dogs were definitely not man’s best friend. It was a nasty shock the first time he encountered them. He’d been running the route for years and until the other day there had been very few cars, nice scenery, and no dogs. Marcus had been plodding steadily down the road when all of a sudden from behind an old barn four dogs came tearing after him. Try as he might to quicken his stride, at this stage of his game he only had one speed, a smooth plod-plod-plod.


Heart pounding and sweat pouring, Marcus finally made it to the corner of the road, and thankfully the dogs got bored with the chase and trotted home. The next few days Marcus tried talking nicely to the dogs, squirting a water gun at them, waving his arms, and even hollering at them. Nothing worked, and Marcus accepted the dogs had it out for him. They hadn’t become more aggressive, but they hadn’t become less aggressive either. Fortunately, no teeth had broken skin, even though they liked showing them in action. Marcus was certain he felt their hot breath on the back of his legs more than once.


Before going on this morning’s run, Marcus bought a box of dog biscuits; this was his last attempt at making friends with his canine nemesis. Putting eight biscuits in his pockets, two for each dog, he began his morning jaunt. The first quarter of a mile of his two mile run always got the crinks and kinks worked out of this knees and ankles. At the beginning of mile two, when he was finally able to get into a good stride, the dog show began. Approaching the dreaded section of the road, Marcus jogged to the opposite side of where the dog’s lived, hoping to appease their territorial temperament. Little did Marcus know, the dogs had long forgotten about territorial issues and just enjoyed the chase.


Grrrr!


Ruff! Ruff, ruff, ruff! Ruff!


“Oh boy,” Marcus thought, tensing slightly, “here they come.” Just as the dogs began to thunder across the road to make their full presence felt, Marcus, stilling plodding along, reached into his pocket and dropped a couple dog biscuits. Curious, the dogs’ stride broke to investigate. Sensing a slight pause in the action, Marcus dropped a couple more dog biscuits. With the corner just in sight and knowing that was normally where the dogs gave up the chase, Marcus dropped the remaining dog biscuits. As he made it to the corner and glanced over his shoulder, he could see the dogs greedily chowing down the biscuits. Marcus grinned to himself. “I may be on to something.”


Marcus and the dogs lived in déjà vu each morning for the next five days. Marcus approached the curve in the road, the dogs began their reign of terror, Marcus threw out the biscuits, and the dogs took a siesta. On Day 6, something amazing happened. As Marcus approached the bend in the road, he chuckled when he saw the dogs lined up and wagging their tails as they waited for him. Marcus spoke to them nicely and dropped the biscuits as he plodded by. As he approached the corner, he smiled and thought, “That gives real meaning to the saying…

* * * * * * *

DON’T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU

* * * * * * *

*Chew On This: Fifty-Two Inspirational Points to Ponder is available for purchase here!


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