For the Love of Chaos Coda, pt. 2: Faylinn

After the fourth straight day of seeing picture after picture in my Facebook feed of dogs up for adoption, I approached my wife.

“I get the feeling you’re trying to tell me something.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“The dog posts in Facebook. You keep “liking” posts about dogs up for adoption. You want to rescue another dog.”

While we had taught Chaos and Jessie a fair number of behaviors over the years, there was one trick they had taught my wife in return: The Bashful, Apologetic Eyes. She used it then, in response to my assertion. She followed it up with a pout filled, “yeah”. Continue reading

For the Love of Chaos: What is a Soul?

Throughout the room I heard several of my female classmates gasp. I, too, was struck somewhat dumb by the news. But with several members of the football team sitting behind me, eager for any excuse to make my teenage life hell, I dared not express my feelings.  Instead, I choked back on the emotions I felt for Buffy, my family’s dog. Even though I held my tongue, something about the teacher’s words didn’t feel right. Why would God punish an animal for being exactly what he created? Especially a dog that brings so much joy into peoples’ lives. I looked back up at Mr. Klemm. The football coach/religion teacher crossed his huge arms across his chest. A ripple of laughter shook his shoulders.

Yep,” he said with a beatific smile on his face, “your little Fido won’t be waiting for you in heaven. Dogs don’t have a soul.”

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