Golden Retriever

He grabs my stick, hurls it across the great expanse of sky, watches it fall into the water.

“Go get it!”

I jump in, start swimming.

In the distance, the low rumble of a motorboat

signifies a disturbance in the lilt of the waves.

I push on towards my goal.

What am I, if not a Retriever? His Retriever?

A wave passes over me and I emerge, nose and mouth flooded.

“Come back, bud!”

I can’t.

I can’t leave him hanging like that.

Another wave buries me under.

I can’t breathe. I can’t see.

It’s right there.

White stars glitter at the corner of my vision.

The waves churn stronger and stronger,

Got it. Done.

Then I am paddling frantically.

The force of the waves created by the boat knocks me flat,

brings me underwater.

I can’t get out. I’m trapped.

I don’t know where the surface is.

The darkness is on all sides.

It wrenches away my hard earned prize.

His arms lift me, orient me in the water.

His touch rejuvenates me as he carries me towards shore.

He dries me off with his towel, gives me a drink of water,

Scratches me in my favorite spot.

He strokes my back.

The sun warms my fur.