With the Pups
“So, are you going to introduce me to the giant balls of fur?” Violet asked. She hoped to try and lighten the mood just a little. She knew there was an endless well of pain just below the surface. It would be opened soon enough. Happier thoughts and images for now would be good.
Gretchen looked over at Violet and back at the bouncing and rolling dogs just as one knocked the other over with a well-timed pounce from the side.
“The little bully there is Onna. And the victim of her pounce is Senshi.”
“Well, Onna better take advantage of him now, because he’s going to have twenty to forty pounds on her when the get full grown.”
Violet was laughing watching them. She knew they were in that awkward teenager stage. Getting a lot of their size but not their mass, still puppies at times, yet serious when called for.
“Are they brother and sister?” Violet wondered.
“No, Dad was looking to maybe breed them, so he went with two different great bloodlines.”
At mentioning her dad, Gretchen seemed to close down again. Violet needed to distract again.
“So since he is Senshi, then she must actually be Onna-Bugesha.” Violet proclaimed.
At the sound of her full name, the female Akita turned to look at Violet, all of her attention focused on the new person who knew her name! Bad move! Senshi blindsided her into the snow. The wrestling was back on.
“How did you know?” Gretchen looked confused.
“Senshi is warrior, and Onna-Bugesha is woman warrior.” She looked over at Gretchen. “This is not the first time I have met Akitas. These guys will be wonderful. You are quite lucky to have them. My father never let me have one, no matter how hard I begged.” Violet silently kicked herself for bringing up fathers again, better to press forward.
“So, why have you guys not brought them around to meet us before?”
Derek and I have been working and training with them a whole lot, but they are still young and not that obedient yet so we worried about them out in public.”
“They can be a handful. I’m sure.”
Violet was watching them out in the yard. They seemed to be slowing down a bit. She wondered if she had given Veronica enough time to get the story from Derek yet. She figured to try something. She squatted down low, looking towards the dogs.
“Senshi? Onna?”
The two dogs looked over at the person squatting down next to Gretchen.
“Senshi? Onna? Kuru!”
“Shit! Now you’ve done it!” Gretchen said grinning as she was shaking her head.
The two dogs were barreling at Violet full speed. It was impressive, especially at Akita Eye level.
Violet was in another flashback. As a kid in Japan, she begged her dad for one but try as she might, he would not get her one, which was wise with as much as they moved. He knew they needed and deserved much more attention than they would receive in the families’ life at the time. She spent every moment she could with the dogs her father’s Marine was breeding. They were the kindest, most gentle teddy bears. Right up to the point they felt the need to protect their people then watch out. The Japanese Royal family didn’t own them for nothing.
Before Violet knew it, she was tackled by the rampaging dogs. One of the great memories of her youth all over again.
“Violet, how did you know?” Gretchen asked her as she came out from under the pile of wiggling fur.
“Japanese dogs, Japanese names, it made sense to have Japanese commands.” Violet said as she extracted herself from the pile.
Violet looked around. The two Akitas were sitting between her and Gretchen, watching her, ready for more play or attention if it showed up.
“Why don’t we go inside. I could use some coffee.” Violet said.
Gretchen led the way with the dogs, Violet close behind.