Cold Heat

Well, playing dead. His young master, Blake, dreamed of being a famous dog trainer, and Daniel Beam would be his star. Blake bragged to his friends that Beamer would be amazing in 10 days. Nine days later, as show time approached, Blake feared he’d be so embarrassed that he’d have to hide out the rest of the summer. The first performance of “The Amazing Daniel Beam, Dog Extraordinaire” promised to be the end of his dog-training career.

Blake had worked with Beamer every day, trying to teach the 12 year old basset hound tricks from an old paperback, 10 Days to an Amazing Dog. Blake tried fetch, but Beamer would grab the stick and chew it to a nub instead of returning it. Blake tried shake, but Beamer only sniffed his hand for a treat, he wouldn’t lift his paw. Blake tried roll-over, but when Beamer stretched out, he wouldn’t move again for hours. Blake thought, after tomorrow’s performance, I’m dead. Ah ha, inspiration hit. Blake knew the one trick that could make Beamer a star!

His heart died when he lost the-job-of-a-lifetime. His brain died when he stopped getting out of bed daily. His soul died when he fully succumbed to the depression that told him he was worthless. Dead in all ways except a pulse. End the misery, he thought as he rolled over and pulled the covers to block daylight from his eyes. Well-meaning friends told him he was wronged, that he was valued, even loved. But his inner dialogue drowned all hopeful thoughts. He knew it was depression speaking, an inner black hole that was never satiated. He wanted to reach for lighter days; he just didn’t think he was worth it.

Relief finally arrived in an absurd chain of events, almost as a joke cycling through the spammers.

It wasn't supposed to be entirely. There was going to be a lot of fun, sun and girls. But the drinking got him into a part of town that didn't quite agree with him, or living for that matter.All he wanted was to impress her, but she had her eyes set on him. So when the opportunity came for him to talk man to man, the table turned and his beautiful love interest was not who he thought her to be. Now past the grave he moves the cards along to deal her the exact same fate she dealt him.