Goodbye, My Pepe Taco

Ah, Pepe! My Pepe-Taco ! My Little One! so much more than just a dog …. how delightful, how clever, how handsome, how affectionate! you really smiled, and really said “I love you”….. to get my attention, you kidnapped my slipper and hid it under the bed; you dropped the empty yogurt cup in front of my chair and looked at me, waiting; you tugged gently at the hem of my skirt, wanting to share my potato chips; you ate cheerios and milk off a spoon like a real person… often i sat in the rocking chair and held you until my elbows went numb. if you thought i was out of your sight for too long you barked in Pepe bark code “come back! i miss you!” last night you curled up next to me on the soft blue and white quilt close to my heart, and we went to sleep - but you did not wake up………. my heart is still listening for you... now there is a little circle of stones out in the yard I planted seeds there that will be bright yellow and brown flowers like the colors of the coat you left behind. one day I will not wake up the soft blue and white quilt long forgotten.. and somewhere, in that Other Place, i will hear you barking “come back! i miss you”! calling me Home.