I run through the leaves, hey look, it’s Jeff. He seems like he might play. I clumsily lunge at him, he dodges the invitation. I am sadly disappointed. What?! Rustling from beyond the garage, definitely. Yes, I see dad emerge from the shadows, I rush to the gate. The ominous noise of the old metal gate rings throughout the backyard, I run to the open gateway, leash time. Wait, in the trees, squirrel, it jumps to the fence, then to the ground. Time to get that jittery mother fucker. He pauses, ever listening, ever vigilant. I dash with grace, between dad’s legs, and make a bee-line for the grey bastard. He runs from yard to yard, me on his tail. “Fuck, Ethan,” Dad says, “come out here, jack got away.” “Dammit!” I hear from inside the house. None of this phases me, not the cries of my name, nor the shouting from behind. All I am focused on is myself and the bastard.  We reach the street. I dodge the bright lights whizzing by. It reaches a tree. Damn, nothing I can do now, just try and make my way home. Nothing is familiar. Trees planted in the sidewalks, people staring. I turn back. More screwed up shit. Buildings that showed people and dogs coexisting peacefully, none of the people here were like that. Angry glares and nervous stares were what greeted me. I wished that I had never seen the damn squirrel. I hear everything, cars, birds, more mother fucking squirrels. But not a single shout of my name, not a familiar voice. Aloneness overwhelmed me, there wasn’t anything that could have helped me. I head back in in the direction from which I came. Finally, I see Dad, just across an intersection. Joy took over my every sense. I run to him, nothing can hurt me, I am finally home. A great force hits me from the side. I feel my body soar through the air. At the peak of my ascent I hear a friendly voice. “No!” Dad shouts.