I was eleven years old. I had taken the bus from Guadalajara to

Teocuitatlán. Taken my beautiful dog Gage with me as another human

passenger. Back then, that was so natural and allowed. He was a mix of

Collie and German Shepherd. Had a gold birth mark in his chest.

Looked like a swallow in four legs. He could almost fly too.

Jumped high and long. We got to Teocuitatlán at night time. In my life

had I been at such a magic town. The streets were cobbled. There were

several huge wide and tall leafy trees. Right at the Plaza. As we know,

each town in México has its Plaza. And at others even a Kiosco.

Were music is played on Sundays and holidays. And I was…standing

in front of the Plaza admiring everything the surroundings in great

amazement. It was simply magical. My Dad sent me to the house of this

old woman where I was going to have my meals every day. I gave some

of the beef and beans I was served. And the old woman threw a bone

to Gage. She was as short as I was at that time. Around…1.50 meters…

dressed in black to the ankles. Skinny, her arms were mostly bone.

Her face all wrinkled. Her hands small and thin. And was an excellent

cook. Gage and I lived at Teocuitatlán for four months. When we went

back, my Father and I to Guadalajara. We spent each and every day

roaming the hills, bathing in a river under a bridge into town.

We walked miles and miles daily. Up and down going here there and

everywhere. I ate pitayas. Sweet pitayas. Red, green, white…sweet as

honey. Drank pulque. Got dizzy. Walked with other kids and their dogs

all over town. It was an endless journey. The town was made of about…

uneven 20 blocks. There was a sugar mill, where my father worked.

He was the mechanic. He some nights had to get up in the middle of

the night to fix sugar mill boilers. The job was seasonal and it was

in production night and day. I enjoyed looking at the stars as I never

imagined. The sky was black as charcoal and the

moon was magnificent. I enjoyed all that with my beautiful dog Gage

by me at all times. Never felt alone and insecure with him by my side

and next to me. Early in the evenings my father visited a friend who

sow alfalfa. Sweet Heavens! While my father talked to his friend laying

on the grass, in those beautiful early evenings, I watched Gage jump

one after another line of tall alfalfa. It is etched in my brain.

I can see him jumping in my mind and my heart brings me joy.

I have never forgotten him. When we went back to Guadalajara, he

became depressed. He missed the liberty and fresh daily air of that

town. As I did too. But things changed. My father wouldn’t go back till

next season. And in few months I was going to start going to Junior

High School. I gave him to a relative who lived in another town.

Between Guadalajara and Tepic. There, he became his old happy being

again. Miss my dog Gage so much…

EO