Savoring Every Moment

This is a short story written when our three pooches left the yard to stop a train.

"I don’t know, should we?"

Argo looked out of the fence with a gaping hole left by a large limb that had fallen in the last wind storm. The air smelled different just outside the fence, it smelled like adventure. He looked at Jax who was the most hesitant of the three of them. Jax, with the whites of his big brown eyes reflective of the inner wheels of his mind turning, calculating.

Stella was already outside the fence and had started her adventure without them. She was sniffing the trees and faded leaves, moving closer and closer to the train tracks. She didn’t need permission. Besides, by her logic the hole appeared, it was all the invitation she needed.

They had seen the train a thousand times, sometimes through the living room window, sometimes standing in the backyard with their noses pressed against the fence. They'd know when it had been fired up to start the journey down the tracks. They could feel it miles before it arrived through the vibrations in the ground.

Stella was the keen one. She'd be the first to feel it. She'd raise her right ear tall above the other and look in that direction. Jax, who was often grazing, eating grass in lazy chews, would only turn slightly. He wasn’t much impressed by things that made noise. But Argo, he'd get excited just because he could.

The train was slow and steady and the brakes screeched as it rounded the corners. It would usually slow down by the houses then speed up as it passed the pastures that were rapidly becoming housing developments. I imagine back in the day, it didn’t pass many houses at all, just acres and acres of open land.

Stella was now out of sight. Argo felt lonely without her, so he stepped outside the fence. Jax, seeing Argo venture out decided to join. He'd never admit it, but he hated to be left out.

Once on the tracks, they looked down the long corridor cut through trees on either side and sniffed the air. Yes, there it is…adventure.

Argo stayed close to Stella who led by at least 20 feet, Jax took the rear position but was really happy he joined. It as a sunny winter day and it had been awhile since he'd felt the sunshine on his back.

Wait, what is that? Stella looked back right ear up. It's coming. Argo and Jax continued to mosey about sniffing here, marking there. Someone had been walking along the tracks earlier, Argo thought. Smelled like old tennis shoes.

Yep, there it is. The deep rumble in the ground beneath. It will be here soon.

A couple minutes later, the train was visible from around the bend.

Oh goodie, I wonder if they have treats. I hope so, thought Argo, who never missed a meal or opportunity to share a morsel.

"I'll just wait here", said Jax and stopped walking. He stood squarely in the middle of the track.

Stella, who's more cautious had moved off the track to the side and was following the scent of a racoon when she saw Jax. Just then, he was joined by Argo who wasn't about to be in second place this time. He wagged his tail and laid his ears back as the train approached. Screeching wheels with blue smoke rose from the tracks.

For a second, the two guys on the train just stared at the three of them on the tracks, surprised that they didn't move.

"Pull the whistle, Tim."

Tim, leaned over never taking his eyes off of the trio and pulled the rope long and hard. "I guess we have to stop."

The grey and white one shook with a start and wagged his tail even harder. Then, the black and white one moved alongside the engine and put his paws on the step.

"Can you believe it?", asked Tim.

"They don't even seem fazed! Looks like they have tags. I'll check."

When he slid the door open, Jax was already on the platform and went inside the cabin to greet Tim. Smelled like potato chips and Pepsi.

Argo and Stella wound themselves between Tim's legs as he scrambled to get a hold of the tags. Stella thought it was a good game. She knew how to win and popped up so her long tongue grazed his cheek. She could tell Tim was content to take a break.

"Here it is, got it."

He dialed and explained he'd found the dogs on the tracks and they wouldn't let the train pass. About 15 minutes and an eternity of neck and head scratches later, a man emerged from the brush. He must have parked on the county road and ran until he saw the train. He was red and out of breath but oh, so grateful. He had the leashes in his hand and a shot the dogs a sheepish look. It was hard to be pissed at them when they looked so happy.

Stella was first to greet her dad. Then, Argo and lastly Jax. They were happy to see him and figured it was good to get back now. The light had changed and the sun had dropped behind the trees. As they walked back to the truck, Jax stopped and sniffed along the way.

Savoring every moment.