Hal stood at the kitchen window looking out over the back yard. In three years this was perhaps the first time he had stood here. The kitchen was Kerry's domain. He ruled the small garage and the yard, Kerry the kitchen and Lisa the living room that was always cluttered with her toys.  As he stood there he thought of the day they had moved in. Kerry had been six months pregnant and unable to lift anything heavy. She had glowed as she ordered him around. This was their dream. To move out of the cramped apartment, buy a place with a yard, get a dog, raise their daughter. Kerry said it was one of the best days of her life. He had thought so too.

Hal heard Kerry walked behind him but he didn't turn to her. She cleared her throat as though she were going to speak but she said nothing. Perhaps, he thought, she had nothing left to say. As the kitchen door closed behind Kerry, Lisa came running in. She had none of her mothers reservations. She threw her little arms around Hal's leg. "Daddy, going to Nana's now?" she asked. "Yeah, sugar. I'll see you at Nana's a little later. I got something I got to do first" he replied. Kerry came back into the kitchen. "Well, that's everything I guess" she said. Hal didn't answer, he couldn't. She stared at him, willing him to speak but it was Lisa who broke the silence. "Buddy going to Nana's?" she asked. Hal turned to Kerry, helplessly. "Come on Pumpkin, Buddy's goin' with Daddy. We gotta get moving." Kerry said to Lisa. Sensing something was very wrong, Lisa started to cry. Kerry picked her up and with one last look over her shoulder, walked out of the house.

Hal stood at the kitchen window looking over the back yard. His big black dog was running around chasing leaves. He couldn't understand how it had gotten to this point. He felt paralyzed. Empty. Ashamed. He forced himself away from the window and slowly walked out the door. He turned to lock it but thought what the hell for. He opened the door to his truck and called to Buddy who came running and happily jumped in. Hal was numb as he drove. His mind just circling around, trying to figure out how it had all gone so wrong. Him and Kerry, they hadn't wanted much. Just a little place to call their own. They knew it would be tight for awhile but it always was when you're staring out. They'd figured he get into the union and get better hours and maybe a raise to help out. When the plant laid off a bunch of the guys he knew it was going to be bad so he started to look for more work. It hadn't worked out. Then Lisa got sick and Kerry had to cut her hours to take care of the baby. Then the loan payment went up. Gas prices went up. They just couldn't keep up. The bank had tried to help but in the end it wasn't enough. They had nothing left, maybe not even each other.

He pulled up in front of the grey, cement building. Just sat in the truck with his arm around Buddy. His last failure. Kerry's mom was allergic and they wouldn't have enough room for him in the basement anyway. Buddy licked his face, wondering why they weren't getting out. He had called ahead. Made the arrangements. So he got out and Buddy followed. He took his leash and walked through the door. Handed the leash and papers to the boy behind the counter and tried to shut his ears to the sounds of all the other dogs.

                                                          ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shannon was out for her daily run. Even though the day was overcast and damp she couldn't keep the smile from her face. It was a good day. No, a great day! She was three miles into her run but had never felt better. The graduation had been wonderful. Her dad had been so happy that even a week later she could feel the warmth of his hug as he whispered "A nurse. Your Momma would have been so proud". She had worked so hard for the degree that sometimes, late at night she wondered if it was all going to be worth it.

Shethought, as she ran, about the call from Brad last night. His cousin worked at the bank and knew of a property that was perfect for them and hadn't even gone on the market. Brad said that it had belonged to a young couple who just couldn't keep up with the payments. They'd kept it up real nice but the bank had to take it back. Brad's cousin said the family was moving out in the morning and if they were quick they might get a good deal if the bank didn't have to pay realtors and such. Brad said it wasn't nothing special, just a little house with a big back yard. Then he said "you know if we had a back yard you could get that dog you're always after me for". She'd gotten so excited that they had driven past it last night even though the folks hadn't moved out yet.

The minute as Shannon saw the house she knew it would be perfect. She was thinking of paint colors as she cut across the parking lot of the Humane Society. She stopped for a minute to stretch and her eye was drawn to the only car in the lot. A big man sat in the cab of his truck, hunched over the wheel, shoulders heaving. It was such a sad sight she almost forgot about the house, the dog, everything. She wanted to go over and ask if there was anything she could do to help but he seemed locked in his own private world of sorrow and she didn't want to intrude. Her cell phone rang as she was thinking on what to do. It was Brad, calling to tell her that his cousin had gone to his boss and the boss was willing to sell them the house at the price they'd been thinking of. While they were talking the truck pulled out of the lot. She told Brad she'd be home soon so they could get started on the paperwork and take a look at the inside just to make sure.

Asshe started to run her thoughts turned back to the man in the truck. She couldn't help him, she thought but she sure as hell could help a dog. She knew exactly the kind of dog she wanted. A big black dog, one who could keep her company on her runs and one who would really appreciate the big back yard. As she passed the grey, concrete Humane Society building she thought "I'll be back tomorrow and spring one of you". Her landlord wouldn't mind if it was only for a little while...