Penelope paced the room, taking note of all of her surroundings. She noted the items on the counter and watched as the lights flickered.
Seeing a toy she had dropped earlier, she picked it up and flung it across the room. Not knowing where it landed she circled the couch, found it and let it remain in its spot.
Stanley was always home by this hour. She was sure of it. Penelope was hungry and been alone way too long. It seemed like forever.
She stood by the sliding glass door, noticing the smudge marks all over it. As she glanced upward, she noticed the clouds moving quickly and the gloomy dark sky.
She knew it was coming.
Her limbs began quivering and she couldn't stand still.
Pacing the room frantically, she searched for cover.
The cushioned couch would suffice. Penelope jumped on and dug furiously. She wasn't sure what she was looking for but as the first crackle of thunder boomed, she knew she had to hide. Stanley wasn't here to protect her, but he'd understand.
Outside, flashes of light zapped the yard accompanying the explosive threats.
She had just covered herself with a thin layer of stuffing from the couch when the door opened.
Happy for a moment, she jumped down, and zipped across the room to greet Stanley who didn't greet her in his normal way. She noticed his eyes open wide and his body tense up.
She wasn't sure what was wrong. Looking to him for direction, she licked his hand, which was now clenched by his side.
"PENELOPE! What did you DO?"
Her tail now between her legs, she whimpered and circled around him, trying to lure him into comforting her.
Shreds of stuffing were strewn around the room, and the new recliner cushions were ripped to pieces.
Stanley's eyes bulged as he tried to decide what to do next. Putting down his briefcase, he slowly walked to the object that used to be a couch and shook his head. That was his favorite couch.
He then turned to see Penelope, still standing, her eyes wide and her body tense.
Just then the thunder crashed and a bolt of lightning struck, cutting off the lights so that they were both standing in complete darkness. Even Stanley jumped at the noise.
Only admitting to himself that he was a little frightened, he now understood the fear.
"Come here girl," he called.
Penelope slowly walked over her tail only wagging slightly at the tip.
Stanley stared at her for a minute, trying to compose himself.
Then he saw it. The absolute fear in his precious pup's eyes. He noted her posture- rigid and tense.
It was then that anger turned to compassion and intolerance turned to patience.
"I understand. It's ok. We'll just get a new couch tomorrow. That one was old anyway."
---
Sometimes we cannot see the world as our dogs see it...until we read the expression in their eyes, or the signs from their body language.
Although we might not share the same fears or quirks, it's important to interpret their emotions. Thunder cannot be explained to a dog for they know only what they hear and what their body tells them.
The same goes for other noises, changes and even scents. And yes, sometimes they know things that WE do not,
Therefore WE can't make sense of them! It does not mean that danger isn't real!
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