Chapter 1: Escape

Something is wrong. I know it, I sense it, I can feel it. My family is missing for three days and that has never happened before. If I could get out of the house, I would search for them, but I’m locked inside.

The other members of my family can open the doors themselves, I have to ask assistance. Someone has to open the door for me. That makes me vulnerable to the whims of others and helpless when the family is absent. Now I ask you, does that seem fair to you? Am I not a full fledged family member in good standing? Don’t I have rights?

My water dish is empty and has been since yesterday. Drinking out of the toilet is forbidden but regulations are over ridden by necessity.

A scolding later is preferable to suffering thirst in the now moment.

Digging is something I enjoy and I am good at. A careful survey has been made of all the exterior perimeter, seeking a spot suitable for an escape tunnel. Cement is too hard for my nails to have much effect on. An alternate route must be discovered. If only one of the windows had been left open. If only I could open a window. They don’t appear very substantial. See right through them. Perhaps I can dig through a window. An experiment will provide some information, even if it turns out to be impossible.

Back on the couch, I rear to my greatest height and attack the clear window pane in its center. My efforts are rewarded. First a crack then the window fell away shattered after a dozen or so lunges. I now have an exit, but choose not to be hasty. I need to eat and rest before venturing out into the unknown. The next meal will be a scrounged up repast on what is available. My food dish has been empty for two days, but I know precisely wheere the sack of dry dog food is kept. Repeated lunges against the cabinet door pops it open. The dog food is dragged out into the open where I can get to it. Soon, I’m stuffed and sleepy. The couch is comfy, so I’ll sleep there.

A scolding would be very welcome. Come home and scold me, family, just return home. Soon I fall asleep. When I wake up, I eat and drink again, then step gingerly through the shattered window.

Now I’m outside. At an easy trot, I head out in the direction my family disappeared in, four days earlier.

The search begins.