Her stomach was lobster colored and splotchy.It clashed with her coppery fur and was definitely a different color than usual.
“Oh my effing God!Furg, what the hell?”
She flicked her eyes to me, her eyebrows shifting, before curling to gnaw on herself again.
“No,” I commanded, lifting her head.“You’ll make yourself bleed.”
The look on her face definitely claimed that would be better than what she was dealing with at the moment.
“I’ll figure this out.”I looked for my phone and to my immense surprise and relief, I spotted it on the side table.
Googling one handed, I continued searching for pants.My cell service was terrible and the blue line across the top wasn’t moving at all.There didn’t seem to be any way to increase my reception.It was so easy to take for granted the built-in amenities of urban life that rural settings just didn’t have.
Pausing my investigation for clothes, I shuffled to a window, hoping that would help.
Apparently, my Wi-Fi needed to be hooked up yesterday.
I left my phone on the sill and went back to my quest for pants.Furgie continued itching, aggressively.
I found sweatpants packed with my cloth shopping bags.I still hadn’t found a bra or underwear, and I did not have “bra-less” boobs.But at least returning to my phone next to the condensation dripping window wouldn’t be torture anymore.
The Internet still wasn’t working.I sent out a text to Sadie, my assistant and best friend:Furgie is all red and itching like a motherfucker.Can you text me the phone number for a vet clinic in the area?I didn’t have much hope the text would send but I was desperate.
“Okay, let’s see if anyone nearby has unsecured Wi-Fi,” I said to Furg.
She remained focused on her task to break through her skin either by claw or teeth.
It didn’t take long for a list of three networks to appear on my screen.One of them had a really strong signal and didn’t require a password,EvrybdyHurts.
I scanned the room with wide eyes.“Furguson, who are our neighbors?‘Everybody hurts’?That is alarming.I hope it’s a sex dungeon or they’re a dom or something.That is the only scenario I’m comfortable with.”
Worrying on my lower lip, I wished I could Google if there was information that the person with the network could learn about me just by connecting to it.On the sofa, Furgie rolled to her other side to scratch with her opposite hind leg.
I sighed.“I’ll sleep with a knife under my pillow.”
Less than a minute later, I pressed the speaker of my phone to my ear.
“Grand Ridge Animal Clinic, this is Nora.How can I help you?”a polite but uninterested sounding receptionist answered.
“Hi, I’m hoping to get an appointment for my dog.I think she might be having an allergic reaction.She’s itching like crazy, and she’s all red.”
“What’s your availability?”
“Any time today.”
“Oh, today?”I didn’t like Nora’s skepticism.
“If at all possible.At this rate, she won’t have any skin left by tomorrow.”
“Oh, no.Can I put you on hold for a moment?I’ll see what I can do.”
“I can hold.”
Her voice changed, growing further away before cutting to silence, “Hey, Peace and Love, you wanna do a lady a solid?”
I puffed a laugh.
“You still there?”she asked a short time later.
