~ A Mistress Gets A Master ~

by

Lois Wencil

Job prospects? None! Experience living on her own? Little! Rejections? Many in every facet of her life! This relentless litany drummed its hard rock beat within Lisa’s throbbing head as she paced from desk to door and back again.

Forty-eight hours had passed since she had checked into this school for guide dogs. Several walks with her trainer, Boyd Westin, had taught her how to hold the leash and harness handle that would link her to a canine companion during travel. Lectures had instructed her how to meet and bond with a dog when it arrived. She had sat through gourmet meals during which she had been bombarded with experiences of those who were returning for second and third guide dogs. "Seventy six percent of blind persons are unemployed," her job placement counselor had told her. Yet her co-students had not only jobs, but also careers, and full active lives filled with family, friends, and fun. All this because of a dog? They had to be either delusional, demented, or the best group of liars ever assembled under one roof. Lisa had eaten little. She had instead gorged herself upon the hope that their stories had gifted to her doubting heart.

She would grasp at anything that might enable her to take care of herself and her three-year-old son. This month at the school was demanding many sacrifices including putting her job search on hold and sending Tommy to Florida to vacation with Dave’s very senior citizen parents. In their retirement complex her son would be doted upon, indulged, and watched over by hundreds of experienced child-raisers. Marge and Mike could be trusted with her precious boy, unlike their son, her soon to be ex-husband. They wanted to have others to care for. Hadn’t they begged her to live with, depend on, and be taken care of by them? She would not! She could not! This dog wouldn’t be a panacea. It would be the first step on her road to self-sufficiency for her in the role of single parent and breadwinner.

In frustration, Lisa pressed the button on her talking watch. 9:00, one hour to go. Since she’d lost her sight, she could hardly trust herself. Now she was waiting to entrust life safety to a dog? Would it work? She’d soon find out.

Maria and Fred, the two other first-timers, had invited her to play Scrabble. She could read the braille letters now slowly. The effort required to read with her fingers made it hard to think of the spelling and placement of the words for maximum point value. Speed would come with practice her braille teacher had assured her. The retrains had urged her to join them as they shared their grief at the loss of their former dogs and their preferences concerning their soon-to-come new teammates. Breed, beauty, size, and color seemed so important to them. Lisa just wanted a living mobility tool with a brain that would safely get her where she needed to go with speed and a remaining ability to function when she arrived. Traveling with a cane could be so slow, tedious, and frightening. Most dogs did like kids, didn’t they? This one had better. She couldn’t stay still. So she had escaped to the privacy of this room to indulge herself in the hope, anxiety, and frustration of waiting for it. Wasn’t one trained guide dog as good as the next? Apparently not. Even now her trainer was working to choose the right one to match with each of his students’ individual requirements.

~ * ~

He was going to be late. The other two trainers probably had the other two first-timers matched by now. Why was it so hard to match Lisa Mechinka with a dog? Every time Boyd tried to concentrate on the pages before him, he kept imagining her. A slender, shy, shadow trying to act confident and brave. Sad eyes dominated her heart-shaped face, as it seemed to peek out of a shoulder length halo of burnish gold curls. "Forget about how she looks and get her a dog," he hissed into the silence of his office.

Only thirty minutes left before he had to present his choices to his supervisor and the other three members of his training team. He knew that all of the guide dogs in his string were ready to work with blind adults. Hadn’t he even traveled with each one of them himself while under blindfold? His five returning students had successfully worked with their other dogs for years. Their histories made matching them relatively simple. Surely one of his four remaining dogs could be matched to his only first-timer, Mrs. Mechintka. But which one? Again he scanned through her student profile.

Age, 25

Sex, female

She certainly was that all right. One might even say a gorgeous, golden goddess. Be professional, he warned himself. Boyd Westin, tough guy with a country boy’s heart, bent forward as he continued reading the profile before him:

Height, 5 foot 3

Weight, 120 pounds

Strength, average

That ruled out the two ninety pound Labrador Retrievers. They’d unknowingly yank her off her feet within a half a block. What a pity. They were such calm and loving animals. Well maybe one of the other trainers would use them.

Stride length, 20 inches

Walking speed, moderate with a bit of a shuffle, improvement anticipated

Stamina, excellent

Family description, lives alone with 1 child, 3 years

Well that’s it! Zephyr, the Chocolate Lab, was not used to having children around her. "Amber, my attached-to-my-hip, golden girl, you’re going to have a new mistress."

Amber lifted her head from her paws and wiggled closer to the master she adored. As he scratched her ears, she licked his hand. That’s what you think! I’ve had enough changes in my life. I want to be with you.

As he gathered up his files, Boyd spoke softly, "You and Lisa will make a perfectly matched traveling team. Maybe putting you two together will remove the sadness from your brown eyes that remind me of Grandma Jenny’s chocolate fudge. You refuse to stay around the other dogs, my aloof human wanna-be. Lisa also distances herself from the other students. She’s never had a pet. You’ll teach her the ropes, won’t you? She even has a little boy for you to love. Little kids have been the only distractions that could entice you from your work. Show time! So come along and we’ll finalize the class team list with the other trainers."

Amber walked quietly at Boyd’s side. However, her mind was in turmoil. I worship you. I’ve almost always listened. I’ve learned all of your commands. I’ve carefully guided you through the streets of town. Now my best friend, trainer, and beloved master, you think you’re going to just give me away to someone else? Without my consent, I’ve been dragged from mother, to a 4-H home, to a kennel packed with hoards of dogs. Then finally you cared enough to take me to live in the big house with the night staff. They understood my need to be with people. I wanted to live with them forever. Another move to another stranger, this will not happen to me again. Boyd Westin you will not betray me. I shall not tolerate it. Amber emitted a low, rumble of a sigh from her throat.

Boyd hesitated. Amber had never made any noise before. He thought he almost saw tears in her sorrowful brown eyes. "Take it easy girl. Everything will work out just fine. Trust me."