The other day, I was listening to my hooman mommy talk with her BFF, and I overheard her say she didn’t think my sister Roxy would be coming for a visit!

What?!

Roxy’s hooman mommy was coming, but there would be no Roxy!

My heart sank because Roxy and I are one! We are sisters and besties! Everyone knows that! What’s wrong with Aunt Christine?

I don’t have another fren like Roxy! When you have a bestie, you know it! When I see her, the only word that comes to mind is happy!

We don’t even have to say a Boykin word to one another. I just know what she is thinking, and she knows what I’m thinking. We think Boykin things and wonder why our hooman mommies worry about us when we run out of sight chasing birds around a field.

Our ears flap in the wind as we spring as high as we can and then we run back to our hoomans.

I don’t worry about anything when we are together. Being with Roxy is being “home.”

So, I waited and waited and waited and believed with all my heart that Roxy would come. But she didn’t. I looked out every window hoping that somehow my sister would be there, but when Aunt Christine came through the door, I didn’t see Roxy. I did a “sad.”

She had her sisters with her, and everyone was laughing and talking but my sister was NOT with them! I flew out the door to look harder!

“Roxy, Roxy, Roxy!” I called as loud as I could, but there was no answer.

Mr. Owl who lives across the street in the tallest oak tree flew over to see why I was so upset. He landed in one of the trees near our driveway and looked down while saying, “Whoooo Whooo Whooo are you looking for Wessy?”

“My sister Roxy,” I cried. “Someone has taken her! I’m calling the Boykin Police!”

“Oooooh, you mustn’t do that, maybe she just didn’t come this time!”

“But she always comes, Mr. Owl. She would never stay at home. She would never miss an opportunity to see me. You must be wrong!”

“Wise bird, I am, and I think your sister just didn’t get to come this time.”

As Mr. Owl talked, I tried to open Aunt Christine’s car door, but I couldn’t. I am not that tall!

“Ooooooh, I would help but I’m all feathers,” Mr. Owl sighed.

“I smell my sister,” I said while letting out a whimper. Suddenly, I felt my mom standing beside me.

“Mom, the car is dark. Roxy is in there.”

“Not this time, sweet Wessy. She had to stay home with her daddy.” My hooman mom reached out and touched me. When I’m sad, we always do a Boykin hug, so I feel better, but this time the hug didn’t work. I was still looking—still hoping.

Mom thanked Mr. Owl for watching over me. “Certainlllly, he wooooed.” Mustn’t worry, Wessy. Roxy will be with you again soon. Be Thankful. She loves you,” and then he flew away. “Woooo! Woooo!”

Mom reached down again and touched the Boykin curl on my head. “Roxy loves you and that’s all you need to know.” Then we walked to the door together.

“Mom, if Roxy loves me why is she not here?”

“Because sometimes other things have to happen first. You have years to see and to be with your Roxy Girl.”

When we got inside, Aunt Christine was talking, but I could smell my Roxy on her clothes. Boykins smell things so much better than hoomans.

I sniffed her really well and then sat as close as I could to her. I even closed my eyes and imagined that Roxy and I were together running through the field above my house. We ran and ran and ran and Roxy was fast! Mr. Owl watched from above and I told Roxy all my secrets.

In my mind, I showed her my favorite places to “go hunt.” There’s Miss Bunny’s house in the old yellow bell bush and Mr. Eugene’s yard where I’m not supposed to go but do anyway!

Then there’s Chippy Munk’s home with his many entrances! He has a lot of property and there’s lots of cool smells there! There is so much for us to do and explore, but Roxy wasn’t here!

Finally, everyone left, and the house was dark and quiet . . . so very quiet.

Mom turned out the lights in the room where we had been sitting and left to go to bed, but I didn’t follow.

I stayed behind to smell the sofa where Aunt Christine was sitting . . . I could still smell my sister.

I knew mom had come back to watch me: “Wessy, don’t you think Roxy misses you as much as you miss her?”

“I guess,” I said not really knowing if it was true.

Mom came closer, “I tell you what. I got a note from Roxy’s dad, and he says Roxy will see you soon!”

My heart did a happy flippy flop because all of us know Roxy’s hooman daddy only tells the truth.

“Oh, Mom, do you think Roxy will remember me?”

“Of course she will,” Mom said as she fluffed my bed. “You are a funny Little Brown Dog. You will be together again just like two peas in a pod—the way you were when you were born, and you will run and play and laugh and do everything you possibly can do.”

I “did” a big smile and laid down and fell fast asleep. I think I even did a ziggy zag in my dreams as I ran with my sister up the tallest hill ever!

“Sleep well Roxy Girl wherever you are tonight. I love you!” sighed Wessy!

Postscript to this Story! A week later Roxy’s hooman daddy Larry kept every word of his promise! I was on a walk with my mom miles away in North Carolina and suddenly Roxy was running toward me! Her hoooman mom and dad were right behind her! It was the biggest surprise ever and enough for another Wessy and Roxy tale!

©Angela Ramage 2024