The dog is barking out front. Damn it, I didn’t even know he had gotten out. I take a second and decide I better go see. I swing open the door, a little old lady is standing there, “Damn it Murphey, get inside!” He looks at me and runs off. Typical. I scream “I hope the dog catcher gets you”, after him. I turn to apologize to her, but she apologizes first. I say “No, no, its my fault, I didn’t even know that he was out.” I turn to go and she stops me short by asking if I have a phone book. I say “of course” and in run inside to retrieve it.

I return and she is standing there. I look at her, I mean really look at her, for the first time. She is confused. I invite her inside and ask her what she is looking for. She replies, “Me. I am lost.” rather matter-of-factly. “Oh” is all I mange. Then I feel something inside me switch gears, like a manual transition sliding into drive.

“Can I help you find you?”
“Oh please, I need my phone number.”
“Is there someone at your house.”
“Yes my husband.”
“Okay, you’re looking in Denham Springs, let’s look in Baton Rouge.”

I find the name she has given me, I say the address out loud.

“Yes, that’s it.”
“Shall I take you? It’s only 2 streets over.”
“Oh yes, please.”

We start to walk. She is very confused. She starts to confuse me. I focus on remembering the address, why didn’t I jot it down? Murphey runs along with us. She tells me about her dog Ruby and that Murphey looks just like her. Every few feet she asks where we are and where we are going. I tell her I am taking her home, she asks, “Honest Engine?” I smile and tell her, “Honest Engine.”

We turn onto her street and walk about half way down to the address in the phone book. The post man is behind us, she see this and checks her mail box. She says nothing is there, and walks up to her front door. The post man puts the mail in her box as we walk up to the door. She says, “I hope it’s open.” It is in fact, wide open. We are greeted by a little mixed bread dog yipping at us. I say “Hello Ruby.”

She walks in and now states that her husband is out. I say let’s check. I knock on the door and shout hello. After a few minutes, a little old man appears. I watch surprise and then fear travel over his face. I realize he didn’t even know she was missing. We exchange pleasantries and with the pleasantries, the underlying story. He asks my name several times and then thanks me. I reply “any time” and turn and walk home.

“Now where the hell did the damn dog go?”