Somewhere Between Black and White by Rosa Sophia, Shelly Hickman Page A

be
fine.”
    “Well, I want to,” she said, choking up.
“I want to say goodbye, too.”
    “Are you sure?” he asked doubtfully. “I
don’t want you to have to go through that again.”
    “I’m
coming to pick you up.”
    They drove in silence. Sam sat in the
passenger’s seat, holding the Whippet-sized mutt in his arms while stroking her
fur. Sophie wondered if Abby was in any pain; she didn’t whine or complain,
although animals seldom did when they were sick.
    Stupid pets! Why couldn’t they ever go in their sleep like they were supposed to?
    “This isn’t necessary, you know,” Sam
said. “I knew it was coming. It’s not like it’s a real shocker.”
    “I don’t care. You are not doing this by
yourself.” Sophie had asked her mom to come with her when it was time to put
Heidi down.
    When they stepped inside the
veterinarian’s office, there was a burly man already seated, wearing a baseball
cap and Cubs sweatshirt, waiting with a young boy. The man held the leash to
their Chihuahua, who shook convulsively when Sam and Sophie entered. It was
always funny seeing a large man with such a dainty breed.
    “What’s wrong with that dog, Dad?” the
boy asked when he noticed Abby.
    The man cast Sam a look of empathy. “He
probably needs some medicine, buddy.”
    “Can I pet him?”
    “Nah, I think you oughta let him be. Why
don’t you hold Rambo while we wait?” 
    Rambo. What an appropriate name for a
dog that quivers like a Mexican jumping bean , Sophie
thought.
    An assistant dressed in Scooby Doo
scrubs came out from behind the front desk. “Hello, Mr. Collins,” said the middle-aged
woman; they were already expecting him. “Hello, Abby girl.” She rubbed Abby’s
face. “Will your friend be coming back, too?” she asked Sam.
    “I don’t know. It’s up to her.”
    It hit Sophie that perhaps Sam wanted to
do this alone, and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings by telling her so. She
had assumed that because she would want someone with her, he would, too. “I
didn’t even make sure you were okay with me coming. Whatever you want.”
    “Sophie, I’m good either way. If I
wanted to be alone, I’d tell you. Really.”
    “Then I want to come with you.”
    The assistant led them into an exam
room, and Sam laid Abby on the table while Sophie took a seat in the corner.
“Right now, I’m just giving Abby an injection to relax her, then I’ll take her
in the back. We’ll put in a catheter, which we’ll use to administer the drug,” she
explained. “I’ll bring her back in and give you a few moments to say good-bye,
then the doctor will come in and give her a sedative, and finally the
euthanasia solution.”
    “Got it.” Sam swiped the corner of his
eye.
    She put her hand on his shoulder. “It’s
peaceful and it’s painless. She won’t feel a thing.” He nodded as she gently
lifted Abby from the table. He opened the door leading to the back room, then
closed it behind her.
    Sophie wasn’t sure what to do. She
wanted to comfort him, but worried about making things worse. He lingered at
the door, his head lowered. His clenched hand briefly pressed to his brow
before he turned to her. With a forced smile, he shoved his hands in his
pockets. She wasn’t going to ask him how he was doing, or if he was okay; that
would be an ignorant question. Of course he wasn’t okay. When he took the seat
beside her, she just held his hand.
    They sat quietly for a while, then he
kissed her hand before taking it in both of his, holding it in his lap. “It’s
all good,” he finally said. “She’s been a great friend.” 
    Another employee came in, accompanying
the assistant, and laid a fluffy blanket on the floor without saying a word.
Abby was placed on the blanket. “Okay, we’ll give you a few minutes.”
    Sam and Sophie took a seat on the floor
next to her as she lay on her side. She already seemed much sleepier, but her
eyes were still open. Her fur was coarse under Sophie’s fingertips,