A Boy and his God  [ Site Index] [ Fiction Index] [ Feedback ]
Once upon a time Howie had a god. It lived in the kennel where
Juniper the mongrel had stayed until he died the winter before.
Howie's mom Sophie was of the opinion that a pet god represented
better value for money. After all, it didn't wake you up barking
whenever the postwoman came by. And you didn't have to have a
licence for one, either.  Howie was inconsolable when Juniper
died. They'd grown up together, been playmates for all of
Howie's twelve years, and though Howie never did learn to wag
his tail -- or Juniper to to do his sums -- they understood one
another perfectly. He sobbed and wailed and wept rivers when
Juniper was run over, and sulked all March until Fred Phillips
said to his wife, "Don't you think it's about time we got
something to replace Juniper?"  Sophie Phillips rolled her eyes.
"Pooper-scooper, she muttered; flea powder, bath time, walks in
the rain. Are you crazy?"  Do not be decieved; it wasn't that
Sophie didn't like ani