The Underdog Part 2 Friends of the Dumpster.

The night dawned, and the lights which resembled millions of stars like those in the sky flickered. Browny, was overjoyed and overwhelmed at the same time. He had never seen these kinds of lights in the dump yard, which only had a couple of lights at the gate. He walked towards the teeming lights, and slowly these lights took shape. Upon reaching the outskirts, he came upon the sprawling suburban area that marked the periphery of the city.  And to his surprise, there were a few dogs who came to him, smelled him, and asked him about where he came from and where he was going. He told the whole story about the red cloth, the dog in the car, and how he lost his way to the dump yard. 

The other dogs, who were confused at this little pup, who had lost his way asked him to go back, for the city will eat him alive. Browny was now oscillating, he was at the crossroad, he could go where his loving mother was, but the place stunk like anything or he could brave the streets of the city and get into the car. And he needed to ponder only a little for he wanted to get into the car like the dog he saw. He chose to stay. Trouble started as he looked towards the city, the growling of just a few moments before kind dogs suggested that though abundant the real estate of the city is divided by each dog having his area marked. Natural instincts put the tail between his legs as the little pup was driven towards the city from the suburb, everywhere he went dogs chased him away. this all chasing and not tending to his little tummy, made him tired and his legs shook, he walked with a little tremble in his legs, and slowly he came to a dumpster where a lonely dog was going through the treasures of the day.

The dog, who was so busy, sniffing and going through items in the dumpster, only became aware of the Browny when Browny came too close and the smell that came with him disturbed the smell of the dumpster. The dog was first afraid of getting caught in the middle of the treasure and a very big dog put the tail between the leg and slowly looked back and found a small puppy shivering and hungry, and looking expectantly at him. He immediately got the courage, he came upon the puppy, smelled him asked about him and he could get only a few sensible muttered growls. Upon which he again went back to the dumpster.

For Browny, this dog that enquired after him at the dumpster seemed kind of all the dogs he met. He could only tell him, that he lived far from here and was hungry before his legs gave away and he sat on the spot. He watched the dog climb back into the dumpster and slowly his eyelids, heavy from the fatigue and hunger, were closing upon him. The dog in the dumpster was becoming blur moment by moment when he was no more and there was only darkness. Browny was at peace, now the hunger was no more nor there was fatigue. slowly darkness gave away to bright light and he felt light. He felt like floating but something was tugging him, holding him down. he looked down there was no one but only white mist he looked up and there was mist again.. he looked around and everywhere the mist surrounded him. The tugging was now frequent and he heard a faint growl and bark in repetitions. Since he could not now go up in the mist, he decided to go down and look for the source of tugging and the bark. slowly the mist faded into darkness and there was now the sensation of someone pulling his tail, the growl and bark which was faint in the mist were now becoming clearer and loud. Somehow he managed to open his eyelids a little and found a faint figure urging him to get up and was pushing something towards him with his paws and nose. Browny tough too tired summoned the strength he never had to open his eyelids and found the dog from the dumpster urging him to get up and was pointing at the food(a half-eaten sandwich)he brought to him. Browny slowly stood up, took the sandwich in his mouth, and ate hungrily. The energy that came from the food, rushed through his veins and his bites on the sandwich become stronger with every new bite. Browny found the strength, and the dog from the dumpster who watched him eat sat guard so as not to allow anyone to disturb the meal of this little pup. He looked at him one and one moment at the long night. For many eyes were now looking at the dumpster from the blanket of the night. 

As Browny finished his sandwich, he looked for the dog who on a sudden whim, urged him to follow and browny followed. the dog quickened his space and soon they were both far from the dumpster and the dog stopped for a moment and looked back at the dumpster. So did Browny, they both saw that the dumpster which was quiet as night overran with barks and growls of the big dogs they were a group who hunted for food at night, the vagabonds of the streets, and even from afar, a dog's eyes would not miss the wounds sustained by them from the fights. The dog from the dumpster urged again to follow and after a long walk that seemed like miles, from the gullies and gutter channels to the crevices and under the gates Browny came to a quiet place in the front was a lonely cement pipe which resembled a presence from eternity with overgrown weeds,, brackish cement and protruding and exposed rusted iron, nested in the rags and dirt. this was the home of the dog from the dumpster. He invited Browny to his cozy and peaceful home. Browny saw a hoard of things in the pipe from the rags of different colors to bits and pieces of different objects. there was a little pot where the water was collected from the rain channel and served as a drinking spot. Browny hurried lapped his tongue in the cool water satisfying his thirst and cooling his body.

When the basic instincts were satisfied, Browny asked about the dog who was so kind to offer him food, water, and shelter and helped him survive. When he asked his name, he didn't have any for he was an orphan. Browny wanted to have him a name and baptized him with the name of  Raggy. Raggy liked the name, it was better than having none. and he showed his affection by wagging his tail.

That night, these two friends slept peacefully... dreaming better tomorrow and a better world.

*** To be Continued

Sharad

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