Third Annual Pet Writing Contest – Page 2

Merlin

Merlin Valerie Egar __________ A cat not there until he is— sudden appearance his dark art. Hidden in shadow, he side-way skitters from corners, lurks under the bed, pops his claws out to snag me. He perches on the bookshelf above my head, hurls himself onto the sofa as soon as I curl up. Mysterious as the Sphinx, he…

Rainbow Bridge, My Ass

Rainbow Bridge, My Ass Deron Eckert __________ Dogs can’t even see half the rainbowand half of them fear walking bridges. Let them cross a field of rare steaks or swim a stream filled with smoked salmon. Imagine each dog leaving this world for an abundance of something they love. Better yet, imagine…

When my hands touched the sun

When my hands touched the sun Scout Clancy Batreau __________ When I was younger,not yet in school,my father was cleaning the fishtankand our goldfish had to momentarily reside in the stained washing up bowl.I was warned not to touch himbut I found my small uncontrolled handsstroking his body beneath the surface,a…

Dreams of an Old Cat

Dreams of an Old Cat Meg Pokrass __________ Waiting for the vet to arrive with his needle, the doorbell startles early. Swallowing a lump, I open the door to a rumpled middle-aged man. “Come in and sit down. I’ll put the kettle on.” “Sure. Thank you,” he says awkwardly. On…

Of the Cat’s Deathly Inquiries

Of the Cat’s Deathly Inquiries Racquel Lee __________ A cat, such a small, antsy little thing, asks one question when one of its lives has been taken. Each question that was asked— whether the death was minuscule or significant in its impermanence, whether that death was something that could’ve been…

Hope is the thing with feathers

Hope is the thing with feathers Mark LaMonda __________ For some reason it seemed that most of what was in our house was either my father’s or my sister’s. My mother had been dead for three years, and my father favored my sister. But, my father did give me an…

The New Human

The New Human Shelagh Hardrich __________ She heard it before she understood it. A sound like the mountain clearing its throat — low and rolling, wrong in the way thunder was wrong when there was no cloud. She was inside, in the good warm spot near the heating box, and…

Clues Blues

Clues Blues Hunter Cooley __________ “We got ourselves in a rough spot, Ms. Dutchess. Give it to me straight.” Spade barked. “I told you. That’s all I know, Mr. Spade.” “Tuesday. Run me through it.” “I was in bed, sir.” “Out by 2 p.m.? Must have had something on your…

The Empty Veranda

The Empty Veranda Swetha Amit __________ I don’t remember it the way most people do. It comes back in fragments—the heat on my skin, a flash of white paws just out of reach. The rest has been filled in by Ma, who recalls that day as if it never loosened…

Letters from the Judges

Letters from the Judges __________ Tara Flaherty Guy It was such a pleasure to read the different prose and poetry selections included in this pet-writing contest, and to consider all of the myriad ways that we human beings interact with the animals in our lives. Though the pieces vary greatly…