A Good Girl in Montauk

For someone who considers himself loquacious while others consider me long-winded and without the ability to shut up, this was quite the challenge. 750 words. Oy. I often have stories with a baseline of 11,000 words and go up to 30,000. I enjoyed the challenge and had a good time participating.

The other writers participating are immensely talented (not that I'm jealous of the bastards). I strongly recommend reading their offerings.

This story is about Buttercup, a puppy introduced to the Corrigan family in "A Montauk Christmas" and was gifted to Cynthia, their young daughter. The story is told from Buttercup's perspective.

*

He stands at my side, huge and unafraid. He is Dink and this is his domain. We watch as Cynthia walks toward William, unsteady, legs wobbly. Stopping, she waits and then moves towards hot box of good smells. Dink looks to me. I run forward and stop between Cynthia and box with meat.

I'm Buttercup and Cynthia is my Good Girl. "No, Cynthia!" I say. "No, hot box! No, hurt!" Cynthia cries. I lie at her feet. William come. Finn come. Dink come. Dink rest his head on my back.

Days go by. Warmer out. Follow Dink's look. Tree. Squirrel! Nasty, bad invader. Buttercup yell with Dink. "Bad squirrel! Go squirrel!" Dink protect. Buttercup protect. Jennifer primitive speak. She say, "Good boy, Dink. Good girl, Buttercup." Jennifer laugh. Jennifer give treat. Squirrel run.

Buttercup and Dink lie on grass in delicious warmth. Buttercup dream of Old Pack. Buttercup stir, look up. Dink sniff air. Danger? Pack safe? Pack safe. Buttercup dream.

Buttercup watch street. No Bad Boys come. Always watch. Fall! Tumble! Dink run into Buttercup. Dink nip Buttercup. Dink run. Buttercup run. Run, run, run. Dink too fast. Dink slows. Buttercup push Dink. Dink fall. Buttercup nip Dink.

More days go by. Dink grow small. Not so big now. Buttercup big. Dink still bigger. Dink push Buttercup. Smell air. Dog! Other dog. "No, dog! You no come here! Dink here. Buttercup here. Not other dog home. Not other dog pack." Run, run, run to front of house. Other dog yell. Other dog say bigger than Dink. No dog bigger than Dink. Buttercup with Dink. Dink yell at other dog. Buttercup yell at other dog. Dink protect.

Many days go by. Cynthia grow. Cynthia walk with William by water. Cynthia pick up shiny rock. Dink by Buttercup. William's paws in water. Dink run to William, push William out of water. We walk. Cynthia in water. Dink wait. Buttercup rush to Cynthia, push Cynthia out of water. No hurt Cynthia.

Cold again. New man at gate. Other men at gate Good Boys. This man new. Dink watch. Buttercup watch. Many days watch. Finn like new man. Jennifer like new man. New man talk to William. Dink stands by William. New man talks to Cynthia. Buttercup stand by Cynthia. Days go by. Pack accepts new man.

Warm again. William on boat. Finn on boat. Dink on boat. Cynthia on grass. Cynthia cry. Buttercup lay on grass, head on Cynthia's feet. "Buttercup here, Cynthia. Buttercup here."

Days grow shorter. Days grow colder. House happy. Cynthia happy. Good smells. Old Man returns! Old Man brought Buttercup to Cynthia. Push my head against Old Man leg. Old Man kneel, pet and scratch my head.

"Hello, Buttercup. What a pleasure to see you again! You're a good dog, Buttercup. Good girl. Can you give me your paw?"

Old Man speak proper, like Dink, like Buttercup. I give him my paw. He pulls treat from pocket. Good treat. Good Old Man. He carry bag. Everyone likes Old Man. He give things from bag to Finn, to Jennifer, to William, to Cynthia, to Tommy, to Daisy.

Old Man leave. William cry. Dink lay by William. Buttercup lay by William. William say Sad Name. William say, "Marisol."

All pack sad.

Days grow warm then cold, warm then cold. Many days. Cynthia big. Dink sleep by fire. Buttercup run. Buttercup protect.

Rumbling! Bad Boys come. Bad Boys take garbage. Buttercup and Dink run. Buttercup fast. "Don't come here, Bad Boys! Buttercup protect!" Dink come. Dink slower. Dink yell. "Go away, Bad Boys! Dink here. Dink protect!"

New Girl come. Sit with William. Cynthia not with William. New Girl go, New Girl back. Always with William. Cynthia sad. William not with Cynthia, with New Girl. "Not alone, Cynthia. Buttercup here. Buttercup here, Good Girl."

Many days go by. Dink hurt leg. Dink limp. No Dink run. No Dink tumble. White in Dink fur. Dink sleep by fire. Dream, Dink. Dream and Buttercup protect. I rest my head on Dink's flank, watch, smell and listen. Buttercup protect. Rest, Dink.

Finn spends many days with Dink. Finn cry. Always by Dink's side. Petting Dink. Tommy comes, gives Dink bacon. Daisy comes. She lifts Dink. Puts Dink on couch. "No! Dink no on couch! Buttercup no on couch!" Daisy not care. Dink head in Daisy lap. Daisy whisper and cry.

Finn take Dink and leave. Buttercup no eat treats, no eat dinner. Buttercup sleep by door. Dink comes back. Dink slow. Rest by fire, Dink. Buttercup protect.

With thanks to GirlintheMoon for her editorial assistance. Any errors you find are mine and are due to late tinkering. My thanks also go to members of the Left Foot, Right Foot Society for their support and to the people that were kind enough to beta-read the story.

May I recommend a story with a bit of a darker nature? Take a look at Todd172's new story "Cold". It's perfect for the current weather and it's also a great precursor for a collection of stories with a gothic horror theme that will be coming out this March.