Hello friends — I hope this note finds you well!
Dog Street
One Night, Late Spring 1981
Manchester South End — Manchester, New Hampshire
I’m five years old, lying awake in my bed in my Aquaman pajamas.
My window is open, and through it I hear the barking of Nero, the German Shepherd next door. I glance at the glow-in-the-dark Mickey Mouse watch I wear and never take off.
It’s 4:15 a.m.
Ten minutes later, Caesar — Nero’s brother, who lives two houses down — hears him and starts barking back. How amazing is it that these two dogs are brothers and live this close to each other?
The barking turns into a chorus that echoes through the neighborhood.
I’m convinced they’re talking to each other.
Thoughts run through my mind.
-Am I the only one awake?
-Is the whole neighborhood awake?
-My brother Matt is in the next room. I’d really miss him if he moved down the block.
-What am I going to have for breakfast — cream of wheat or an Eggo waffle?
-I know one thing for sure: I’m going to drink orange Tang.
I pull back the covers, get out of bed, and look out the window.
The streetlight is on, and I can see Nero by his doghouse.
“Hey, Nero,” I yell.
The barking stops.
The echo of his brother’s response stops too.
A stillness settles over the neighborhood.
I climb back into bed and pull the covers up.
I think about breakfast again — cream of wheat or Eggo waffles.
I fall back asleep.
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Thanks for reading,
Adam