Requiem for Rudy
When the Price You Pay is Your Happiness40 total reviews
Comment from Gert sherwood
Hello Jay, I know one thing about your writing that you know how to express your feelings and using words that can describe of what the foul smell from Rudy urine. It looks like to me that Rudy made sure when had to urinate would leave a sign saying, now this my territory find you own.
Jay, I can see that you are direct in what you want to say, to me makes a skillful writer.
I still don't know why you didn't bury Rudy?
Gert
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Hello Jay, I know one thing about your writing that you know how to express your feelings and using words that can describe of what the foul smell from Rudy urine. It looks like to me that Rudy made sure when had to urinate would leave a sign saying, now this my territory find you own.
Jay, I can see that you are direct in what you want to say, to me makes a skillful writer.
I still don't know why you didn't bury Rudy?
Gert
Comment Written 04-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Thank you, Gert. If you read my responses to Bob (Mastery) and Karenina, you will find that I go beyond the story's end. Hopefully, you will see where I was coming from. Also, I'd like to think I am wiser and more forgiving than I was 20 years ago.
Comment from Rdfrdmom2
Jay Squires:
End stage of life with one's pets is never easy. I have a 14 1/2 year-old Scottish Terrier who is as perky as a pup one day, then sleeps all day the next. I cannot imagine life without her.
Rdfrdmom2
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Jay Squires:
End stage of life with one's pets is never easy. I have a 14 1/2 year-old Scottish Terrier who is as perky as a pup one day, then sleeps all day the next. I cannot imagine life without her.
Rdfrdmom2
Comment Written 04-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Hi, Jan. No, it isn't easy. With pets or with humans. I hope you have many, many more years with your dog.
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Thanks.
Comment from RetroStarfish
Well this is fucking brilliant, if you'll pardon my language. The story is less about the tragic Rudy and more about you as a creature lover and do-the-decent-thing kinda guy. The description of Rudy's breath and the ammonia assault aroma of your home are breathtaking (literally) but it is your actions, motivations and asides to the reader that make the story so spectacular.
One small typo "...with a special nod to the Fabreeze commercials." [Febreze] -
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Well this is fucking brilliant, if you'll pardon my language. The story is less about the tragic Rudy and more about you as a creature lover and do-the-decent-thing kinda guy. The description of Rudy's breath and the ammonia assault aroma of your home are breathtaking (literally) but it is your actions, motivations and asides to the reader that make the story so spectacular.
One small typo "...with a special nod to the Fabreeze commercials." [Febreze] -
Comment Written 04-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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You made me so fucking happy to hear your comments. I'm from the 40s and 50s generation, so I still look over my shoulder when I write that word. Ah, no one saw me. Seriously, thank you for your generous rating, and your kindness.
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
You did a good job telling your story for readers. I understand how the dog became a part of your family. what I don't understand is how you wrapped it up and disposed of it in such a wrong way.
Respectfully, Jan
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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You did a good job telling your story for readers. I understand how the dog became a part of your family. what I don't understand is how you wrapped it up and disposed of it in such a wrong way.
Respectfully, Jan
Comment Written 04-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Thank you for your kind, while blunt, assessment. Deserving. I'm twenty years older now. I hope wiser. I gave a fuller explanation to Bob (Mastery) and Karenina. That is I went beyond the story's ending. If you care to read my response to their reviews, it might give you a little more insight. Again, Thank you. Truly.
Comment from Goodadvicechan
You have a kind heart to take care of Rudy all these times although he has been giving you troubles. This story does not show any happiness you can get from Rudy unless I miss it but overwhelm by the troubles Rudy caused.
You are definitely a good story teller. I enjoy your writing.
Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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You have a kind heart to take care of Rudy all these times although he has been giving you troubles. This story does not show any happiness you can get from Rudy unless I miss it but overwhelm by the troubles Rudy caused.
You are definitely a good story teller. I enjoy your writing.
Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 04-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Thank you, my friend, for reading it with such an open mind and heart.
Comment from T.A. Walk
I spent way more time on this then I intended. I was with someone who hoarded, and at a point, since we had animals, our situation was not unlike this. Hiding the house for dignity and pride truly becomes a thing. I know by the time I made changes, I lost everyone, I hope you faired better. Well done, and I'm truly sorry for your experience. Take care.
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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I spent way more time on this then I intended. I was with someone who hoarded, and at a point, since we had animals, our situation was not unlike this. Hiding the house for dignity and pride truly becomes a thing. I know by the time I made changes, I lost everyone, I hope you faired better. Well done, and I'm truly sorry for your experience. Take care.
Comment Written 04-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Thank you so much, my friend for your understanding. You were perhaps the only review-sending reader who shared the same emotional upheaval and can understand the consequences of trying to do the right thing.
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It can be hard to find understanding when you have room to judge. Too many people are never put into situations that force them to learn what it means to make hard choices. To love something you?ll give up everything for, yet hate that same something for taking everything away. It is a feeling most do not understand. I sure you were strung up on this, but remember this. We should be happy for them while they judge us, because they don?t have to know how it feels. What that means is, even if we have had to, we don?t have to anymore. Keep your head up.
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Thank you for your humanity, T.A.
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No worries!
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Reading this I wondered how many people would have taken the poor dog in, when it was smelly, peed everywhere, and was ugly. What a sad picture you describe!! Lol. But, fortunately for Rudy, you did, and at least he had a good life with you and your family. Every creature deserves that. I'm glad the person who abandoned him, after treating him so disgustingly, tied him to your shrub and not your neighbours. His life might have been totally different, and that's only saying he had that chance of a life at all. Well done! :)) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Reading this I wondered how many people would have taken the poor dog in, when it was smelly, peed everywhere, and was ugly. What a sad picture you describe!! Lol. But, fortunately for Rudy, you did, and at least he had a good life with you and your family. Every creature deserves that. I'm glad the person who abandoned him, after treating him so disgustingly, tied him to your shrub and not your neighbours. His life might have been totally different, and that's only saying he had that chance of a life at all. Well done! :)) Sandra xx
Comment Written 04-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 04-Mar-2021
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Thank you, Sandra, so, so much. I've gotten a number of comments that were supportive to a point, but couldn't take that last step of understanding. You did, and I appreciate you for doing it.
Comment from Mastery
Hello Jay. I did everything but cry reading this from start to finish. First of all it is very well written from the go to the gone. I feel sorry for rudy an ddid even when his breath was intolerable and he pissed from one place to the other. What a dog. And of course he was just a dog who had not been trained properly. by the time you got him his bad habits were already solidified. Poor guy. I love dogs and I could not help but feel sorry for him. So, did you end up leaving him like that? Bless you, Jay. Bob
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Hello Jay. I did everything but cry reading this from start to finish. First of all it is very well written from the go to the gone. I feel sorry for rudy an ddid even when his breath was intolerable and he pissed from one place to the other. What a dog. And of course he was just a dog who had not been trained properly. by the time you got him his bad habits were already solidified. Poor guy. I love dogs and I could not help but feel sorry for him. So, did you end up leaving him like that? Bless you, Jay. Bob
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Thank you for expressing your emotional response to my writing. You know how good that makes a writer feel.
About the untold ending:
While I was sitting in the car, my concern was that one of two things was likely to happen. Either the cops would drive down the side street (where they made their frequent patrols) and see the bundle on top of the cardboard, or within 3 hours it would be light and the street people would be in the alleyway.
The police would likely view it suspiciously, thinking perhaps it was an abandoned newborn. The street people, out of need, would want the beach towel that Rudy was wrapped in.
In either case, Rudy was likely to be exposed and left where he was. Burying him in our back yard was out of the question. When my daughter's baby puppy died, the two of us worked for better than 2 hours to dig down a couple of feet. Where we live, your shovel strikes a boulder every 6 inches or so.
I lifted up several sheets of the cardboard until I found a space that would accommodate the bundle on the side. When I slipped him down into it, I noticed it was warm. Funny the small details you remember from nearly 20 years ago.
And that's the real ending. Again, Bob, thank you!
Comment from damommy
It was very kind of you and your family to do their best in dealing with Rudy, the poor unfortunate dog. The time you had him, though, he knew love and peace, probably something he'd never known before. He went easily across that Rainbow Bridge, and somewhere, he's having a great time with all the pets who went before him.
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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It was very kind of you and your family to do their best in dealing with Rudy, the poor unfortunate dog. The time you had him, though, he knew love and peace, probably something he'd never known before. He went easily across that Rainbow Bridge, and somewhere, he's having a great time with all the pets who went before him.
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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I'm so happy you enjoyed this story. And yes, I couldn't agree more with you that Rudy was unfortunate. I'm glad you understand.
Comment from Gloria ....
A superbly written true story, Jay. And what an ordeal for you and your family. I really enjoyed how you injected such beauty, ie the honeysuckle vines climbed the fence with a pleasant scent in and among the overwhelming scent of ammonia.
And mind you this: Rudy's was not puppy breath. Yep there is something about very "loud" breath from a wee pet that can be most overwhelming, and particularly when it's attached to a slobbery kiss, in addition to urine marking.
I think you did a laudable job in a most trying situation, and it wasn't a failure of love at all.
Just a couple of typos/suggestions:
Fabreeze, Febreeze and any other variation are all Febreze.
My story ends after a three-mile drive through the cottony tule fog when I pulled into the wide, pavemented (paved) alleyway
I quite enjoyed this, and your writer's attention to detail really brought this poignant story to life. :))
Gloria
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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A superbly written true story, Jay. And what an ordeal for you and your family. I really enjoyed how you injected such beauty, ie the honeysuckle vines climbed the fence with a pleasant scent in and among the overwhelming scent of ammonia.
And mind you this: Rudy's was not puppy breath. Yep there is something about very "loud" breath from a wee pet that can be most overwhelming, and particularly when it's attached to a slobbery kiss, in addition to urine marking.
I think you did a laudable job in a most trying situation, and it wasn't a failure of love at all.
Just a couple of typos/suggestions:
Fabreeze, Febreeze and any other variation are all Febreze.
My story ends after a three-mile drive through the cottony tule fog when I pulled into the wide, pavemented (paved) alleyway
I quite enjoyed this, and your writer's attention to detail really brought this poignant story to life. :))
Gloria
Comment Written 03-Mar-2021
reply by the author on 03-Mar-2021
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Ha! I can't believe I used pavemented! I need to change that right now before one more person reads it. Wow! I've changed Febreze already going by another person's spelling. Correcting it again.
Thank you for the lovely review, and for the six stars!