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      Our dog is Patches. He's a wonderful hound.  He is entertaining, affectionate and he communicates with us.  When he wants his tummy rubbed he rolls over on his back and wiggles and snorts, then we rub his tummy.  If we stop, he plays the peek-a-boo game because he knows that his reward is a tummy rub. He plays peek-a-boo by putting his paw over his eye.

     Patches has learned many tricks.  He can "sit and stay" even if we put a treat on the floor. He won't come until he is told, "Come and get it!" He can catch a morsel that is tossed to him. He has silky, soft ears and he is protective of the kids. He has even learned to walk on a leash, though he needs a reminder sometimes.  He has become our farm dog.  The little children like to play “Hide the Treat” with him.  They say, “Sit Patches. Stay.”  Patches sits and sometimes whines a little in anticipation.  They hide the treat in the next room and come back to him.  Then they say, ”Go find it Patches.  Go get it.”  Patches puts his nose to the ground (he’s part basset hound) and begins sniffing.  The kids point to the right room and say “This way, Patches.  Go get it.”  And he always finds the treat of course and wants to play again.

     So why is my story called the Forsaken Friend? Because, Patches was a deserted dog.  I saw him on the side of the road.  He was a puppy about 6-7 months old.  I didn't think much about it when I saw him.  He wasn't trying to run into the street. At that time, we lived up a long road up a mountainous hill.  I saw him again a few days later, still sitting in the same place.  It dawned on me then that he was waiting for someone.  Someone who would never come back.  I worried about him.

      I mentioned him to my husband

and he said, "Yes.  I saw him, too." 

The next day was our anniversary. 

We were going out to eat. We passed

the forsaken dog on the side of the road

and I said, "Look.  He is still there."

We went out and had a nice dinner. 

My husband's parents were visiting

and they were watching the kids.

     As we rounded the corner on the way

home, I said, "I wonder if that puppy is

still there." 

     He was.  My husband slowed down

and said, "Do you want that dog?"

     I said, "Yes."

     He slowed down some more, but the

road was narrow and there was a car

behind us.  The little puppy ran along

beside our car, but my husband drove on.

      He said, “The road is too narrow. 

We’ll have to come back.”

     As we sped up, the pup fell behind and went back to his place by the side of the road.

We went up the hill until we could find a place to turn around.  When we went back Patches seemed a little frightened when I got out of the car and picked him up.  But when I put him in the car and climbed in, he became very excited.  He sniffed the air, from my lap, and looked back at me, so happy as if he knew he had finally found me.  He sat in my lap and looked out the window as if he belonged right there and was wondering where our travels would take us.

     When we got home he was thrilled with the children, he raced around the yard sniffing everything and rejoicing as if he had found his home.  And he had.  We looked for “Lost Dog” ads and signs online and on corners. And were rather glad that we saw none.

      Patches had come home.  He is our friend. 

     When I was ill for 5 years and spent most of my time in bed, Patches was my companion.  I was weary of lying in bed and began writing stories to entertain my children.  I’ve always enjoyed writing and this time, I chose Patches for my subject.  He became the narrator of the story.  And I tried to see the world through his eyes, delighted with children and treats and strange stinky odors, a dog who loved to please his people, and who quite often let his nose get him into trouble.  The children loved reading about Patches!  And they liked being in the stories, too.  Not all of Patches’ adventures are true stories, but that makes the stories all the more fun for my children and they often come up with an idea for another adventure that Patches can have. We always wonder what he is thinking. His first adventure is “The Stinkaroo Dog and the Forbidden Portal.”

     Enjoy it like a child would and enjoy Patches as if he is your very own, well-loved slightly spoiled hound.