Encumbered? Aren’t we all? Along with the gift of life comes a dubious present… a gift of hardship and tears.
We toil and labor for our keep.
But the Benefits of life… clearly outweigh the inconveniences.
The inconveniences?
In the midst of life there is a constant struggle.
In the midst of life there is sickness and death.
And yet, in the midst of life even though we are battle weary… we march on.
I looked around the darkened closet with my small flashlight for a weapon. Anything that I could use to defend myself. There was nothing.
All I had on me was the glass cutter. Would that be enough to ward off the two big dogs? Would it be enough to defend myself?
I found a wire hanger and bent the hook. I made it straight. I made it into a pointy weapon. If I had to, I would stab the dogs with it.
I took the shoulders of the hanger — the triangular part that holds the clothes — and bent them together. I was trying to make it into a handle so that I could grasp it better. Turn it into a better weapon.
I was ready. But I knew I had to calm myself down. My hands were shaking. And I was breathing heavily. I was wondering if I was having a panic attack.
Calm down! Calm down! I didn’t want the dogs to see that I was scared. Or scent it.
The thought of just staying in the closet briefly flashed through my mind. Why risk being attacked by the two big dogs? But what if someone heard them barking? What if they called the cops?
I couldn’t take the chance.
And the dogs seemed to be much calmer now.
I started thinking about the beach, and a warm summer day. Girls all around… with hardly anything on.
I started thinking about Vivian. We both loved to dine and dance and party. Life for the both of us was a never-ending roller-coaster ride.
I thought about the cruise ship that we went on together. And that one starlit night, when the fragrance of love was in the air.
It was magical.
We were near the ship’s bow when I proposed.
And with her long golden hair blowing in the breeze and the backdrop of the moon and stars… She looked like a goddess.
She accepted, and smiled lovingly, looking at me bending down with my knee on the floor.
We had a big party afterward to celebrate the occasion. Though neither of us ever really needed a reason to party or celebrate.
I calmed down.
I was ready!
I came out with a big smile on my face and started petting the dogs. And while I was petting them… I was talking nicely to them.
My heart was beating so fast that I thought it would break free from my chest. The two vicious dogs were now acting like playful puppies. One even jumped on me and almost knocked me down.
The light was on! Someone turned on the light. It was the couple. They returned. But they were supposed to be gone for the weekend. I put my hands up. And dropped the hanger, and glass cutter. I surrendered.
I said, “I don’t have a weapon.”
The woman yelled, “Caesar, Brutus attack.” She pointed her finger at me.
The playful German Shepherds turned into the monsters that they were trained to be.
I tried to protect my neck. I read that is the first place they like to attack.
I was screaming, begging… pleading.
I felt the pressure from the dogs’ powerful jaws as they bit into my arms and legs.
I screamed, “My hand! My fingers! My fingers! Call them off!”
I was down. I was on the floor. The dogs were on top of me.
The side of my face was being ripped apart.
I was being torn apart.
The story will be continued in the Burglar 5.
Thanks for reading. And your comments are always welcome.
Fictional stories by John Saccone 
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