Sophia and the Wolf Within
Jim Willis "Pieces of My Heart" — Writings Inspired By Animals and Nature
THE wolf peered out from her vantage point behind the shrubbery. The house and yard were clearly in view and she could see the dogs slumbering on the lawn and under a shade tree. She inched forward, staying in the shadows and following the tree line. She stayed upwind of the dogs, knowing that their sense of smell was nearly as keen as her own.
As she crossed under a tree a bird sentry began chattering an alarm and she froze - but some of the dogs only stirred and returned to their deep sleep. She placed a forepaw ahead of her and continued her pace as silent as a shadow.
She rounded the corner of the house and could see that the backdoor stood ajar. It was as she'd hoped. She sat back on her haunches and surveyed the area. The only sounds were of birds, a rabbit scurrying through the underbrush, and the faint tones of the human's music. Minutes passed as she prepared herself mentally to cross the threshold of human inhabitance. She licked her muzzle with nervousness.
She stealthily approached the back door and froze again at the step. She inhaled deeply and a flood of information invaded her. She knew instantly that in this place resided domestic dogs and cats, and one human male and one female. Not even the humans' chemical perfumes could disguise the number and sex of each. She curled her lip against the assault of scents and waited.
She entered and froze again, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Her pupils dilated and attempted to comprehend the human's world of manmade clutter. She moved silently through the first room. Her hackles were raised in anticipation.
The human male, her prey, was asleep directly in front of her on a bedding platform. He moaned softly, rubbed his nose and resumed breathing deeply. Again she waited. A cat regarded her without alarm from the top shelf of a bookcase.
The wolf planned her leap. She slowly wiggled her hindquarters as she coiled the muscles of her haunches and the nub of her tail gyrated. She leapt.
"UHH!" I gasped as sixty-five pounds of brindle Boxer landed on my midsection and I drew my knees up in self-defense. I struggled to a half-sitting position and stared wide-eyed into a beautiful ugly Boxer mug.
"Sophia..." I struggled for breath. "HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?! That hurt!"
Sophia blinked innocently and her pink tongue apologetically licked the tip of my nose. She slunk away to the far end of the couch thoroughly chastised, as I swiveled my feet onto the floor still clutching my stomach.
"Honestly," I said and gave her an exasperated look. "I wonder sometimes what goes through that Boxer brain of yours!"
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By Jim Willis
From Pieces of My Heart
Copyright Jim Willis 2002
