Free Dancing Dogs by Jon Katz Page A

in. I hate to leave him. I had the sense that you two might be happy with each other. Call it a message.” He looked up at the sky.
    Minnie looked up also, but she saw only clouds.
    Even on her deathbed, she did not understand why thepriest had come to her. It was as bewildering to her as why she eventually agreed to take Luther in.
    Father Matthews had stood silently that morning, giving her time to think. Luther continued to stare at her. It was as if he knew her, was waiting for her. The kids would be shocked. She had never allowed cats or dogs or rabbits or rodents in her spotless little house. But for some reason, she now felt her heart almost literally opening up.
    Father Matthews said, “All my prayers brought me here. That means something.”
    Minnie started to open her mouth to say no, but the word would not come out. So she said yes, and the priest handed her the leash, along with a bag of Purina Dog Chow. He leaned down, patted Luther on the head, and then walked away.
    Jacob had a fit when he came home from work and found Luther dozing on the sofa, but his displeasure didn’t last long. Over time, Jacob came to love Luther too, although not as much as Minnie did.
    Luther ate well, grew fat and happy. He fit into the household easily, as if he had always been there. Minnie hadn’t realized it, but since the kids had left, she was sometimes a bit lonely. And while she had nothing bad to say about Jacob, life with him could get a little boring. Mostly, he loved to read his paper, watch TV, and smoke his awful cigars. Luther brought a whole new focus to her life. After a few months, he was sleeping at the foot of the bed.
    Luther lived with Minnie for thirteen years. Jacob had died six years after the dog arrived, and Minnie often said she would not have gotten through the loss of her husband if not for Luther. When he died, she called the New York Archdiocese,tracked down Father Matthews, and told him that Luther had passed away.
    She thanked him for bringing him to her. “He’s been a great comfort to me. You were right.”
    “Thank you for loving him,” the priest said. “I will pray that you and Luther meet in Heaven.” She decided not to tell the rabbi about that prayer. Jewish doctrine was a little fuzzy when it came to Heaven, and the rabbi might be wondering what she was doing chatting with a Catholic priest.
    Now Minnie felt very tired. It was so quiet. The room was empty. Then the beeping slowed, and the bed filled with light and warmth, and Minnie had the most amazing sensation of feeling young and light again. She felt as if she were floating out of her tired and aching body until she couldn’t hear the beeping any longer.
    M INNIE RECLINED in a comfortable chair, her feet up on an ottoman. There was a small garden, the flowers rich and sweet-smelling. The air was crisp and pleasant. Songbirds were everywhere. Nothing fancy, just everything she liked.
    Jacob was sitting next to her, holding her hand. They didn’t live together there, but they saw each other every day, took walks together, sat and talked about their children. Somebody else took care of him.
    She saw her mother and father walking together at the edge of the green lawn. Once or twice a day they waved to her and smiled. They seemed happy. She hoped she would see her children here someday too.
    The days passed easily and comfortably.
    One day, there was a commotion by the gate, whichswung open, and a buxom, anxious-looking woman came in calling Minnie’s name. Minnie raised her hand, and the woman bounded over to her.
    She was heavy-set, with curly brown hair and horn-rimmed glasses that were partially fogged up. She wore a green, blue, and red paisley cotton dress that came down to her knees. Even from a distance, Minnie could see dog hairs on it. Minnie was fastidious, and always noticed things like that. But most notably, the woman had wings. The wings were of badly frayed silk, and she wore knee-high rubber boots. She was