CHAPTERS 11-15

Connector

“I move my arms off my face after a while and let him rest his paws on my chest, and I’m lying there petting his head and he’s got this happy dog-smile on his face. The breeze is blowing cool air in from the west, and I figure I’m about as happy right then as you can get in your whole life”

I am, and will always be, a dog lover. This passage really struck a nerve with me because of the description of the “happy dog-smile.” If there are any other dog lovers out there, you know exactly what the author is talking about. Although they are not actually smiling, the special bond lets us know that they are truly happy. Dogs are the only animals that love you more than they love themselves. I think the enjoyment we get from the companionship of a dog is only a fraction of what the dog experiences.

I read a story about a family that had to put their dog down at the age of 10. The parents thought it would be a good idea for their 6 year old son to observe and hopefully learn something from the experience. Afterward, the family and the vet were discussing the fact that dogs’ lifespans are much shorter than humans. 6 year old Shane had an explanation for this. “I know why. People are born so they can learn how to live a good life—like loving everybody all the time and being nice right? Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.” For me, this story, along with the passage from Shiloh, reinforces that special bond and happiness that dog owners know so well.

Travel Tracer

Chapter 11: Marty’s house; his entire family now knows about Shiloh. Marty’s friend David Howard comes for a visit and David discovers Shiloh’s pen. Marty is forced to tell him everything. That afternoon, Doc Murphy brings Shiloh to the house to recover. Marty’s father agrees to let Shiloh stay while he is healing from the German shepherd attack.

Chapter 12: Marty’s house; Shiloh is healing. Marty is doing everything he can to earn money to pay back Doc Murphy. Judd Travers visits the house after hearing that Shiloh is there. Him and Marty’s father agree to leave Shiloh there until he is fully recovered.

Chapter 13: Marty is playing out several scenarios that will keep Shiloh away from Judd Travers. He talks to David Howard about giving Shiloh to relatives in Ohio or possibly finding a place around town to hide him. He finally has a plan and sets out to Judd Travers’ house early in the morning. On his way, he witnesses Judd illegally shoot a deer.

Chapter 14: After watching Judd kill the deer, Marty threatens to call the game warden. The two make a deal that Marty will work at Judd’s house for 20 total hours in exchange for Shiloh and Marty’s silence regarding the illegally taken deer.


Chapter 15: Marty shares the deal with is parents and the entire family is ecstatic. After his first day working at Judd’s, Marty realizes how hard Judd is going to make him work. He tells Marty that the paper with their agreement written on it is worthless but Marty is determined to hold up his end of the deal. At the end of his two weeks of work, and much to Marty’s surprise, Judd comes out of his house at the end of the day and gives Marty a new dog collar; Shiloh is officially Marty’s dog now.

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