The Watchdog (100-word story)

I never envied Apollo or his sleepless nights outside the nursery door, keeping watch over the precious life within, at least never until the evening phone calls began to frighten her. But after several nights of successive threats and spreading fear, I remembered Apollo and I laid my blankets outside her door, vowing to stay awake until the dawn.

I never envied Apollo or thought much of his endless vigilance, but as the cold air worked its way through my covers and my back began to ache, I knew the watchdog to be the happiest of all of God’s creations.

[This little essay was both a tribute to my childhood dog, Conan, and a 100-word creative writing assignment for a college English class]