Darkness Falls

Once a feisty cavalier King Charles Spaniel stood guard over the side yard. Nothing escaped his (or was it her?) eagle-eye. Low growls would become yippy barks as he/she defended the realm against all who would dare to walk upon the sidewalk in front of the house.

This is when I would see our neighbor; as she stood on her steps talking with the dog, telling her companion that "It's okay. They're nice people." I didn't see her often; sporadic at best. Yet, when I did, there was a pleasant wave and a quick hello before I would continue on my walk either to or from my own house.

She was elderly, but not too much so. She had a small frame, with curly hair the color of gun-metal. Her small white house was "cute", but only because it was so tiny when compared to others around it. Had she lived here all her life? Did she raise a family here? Was this where she chose to make a life for herself or was this the next stop after her children were grown with lives of their own? I have no idea. And now I never will.

I haven't seen our neighbor since December and the side yard is empty. No growls are heard; no wagging tail is seen, and no gentle admonishment is heard from the side door.

The house is quiet now.

No one who lives near us knew her. She lived ten houses away and I never even knew her name.

I like to think that she's living with a relative and the she and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are content in their new surroundings. But, I think I say that to make myself feel better.

Darkness falls over our neighborhood. There are no lights on inside the house to be seen through the windows from the street. At night the emptiness fills the air.

No dog, no lady and no chance to ever say "Hello" again.