(PHIL, dressed for a cold fall day, contemplates a makeshift grave. LARRY, also dressed for a cold fall day and carrying a large shopping bag, enters and watches PHIL for a moment.)
Hey, neighbor.
Hey.
Jack Frost come early this year.
Yep.
(Beat)
Just coming back from Target. Taking the bags inside.
Lotsa cars in fronta your place. Something going on?
Denny's birthday.
No kidding. How old's he now?
Eleven.
Eleven. Huh.
(Beat)
You want some cake?
No, thanks.
There's cake inside.
I'll pass.
Judy'll cut you a piece.
Tammy's got a pot roast up.
(Beat)
You're not inside.
Needed some air.
(Beat)
(approaching the grave)
What's this here?
A grave. Kids made it.
(reading from the grave marker)
Buster. Oh, jeez. Oh, jeez. I'm so sorry. Oh, jeez.
'S okay.
I had no idea. Oh, jeez. When did he, you know?
This morning. He was chasing after Ed Jorgensen's Hummer. Ed said he hit a patch of black ice, the Hummer started fishtailing, and he heard a bump. Once he cleared the ice, he pulled over, walked back up the road, and found Buster. Was knocked clear into the ditch.
Oh, jeez.
Doesn't look like he suffered, though. Ed said Buster'd already stopped breathing by the time he found him.
Oh, jeez. 'nd today of all days.
Hm?
It had to happen.
No kidding. "Happy birthday, Denny. Your dog's dead."
(Beat)
He was some dog, though.
Yep.
Too bad.
What?
He's gone.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Died happy, though.
That right?
Loved nothing more'n chasing Ed Jorgensen's big red Hummer.
Well, that's something.
Tammy and I 'ill miss him. That's for darn sure.
[END OF EXCERPT]
Copyright 2011 by Robert Kerr