trees and everybody seemed to be happy. At least Rein thought so, for he was…

“Nice weather, isn’t it?” Roxie nuzzled him gently and he realized he had forgotten her completely. His mind had been full of the scenery and the view that was completely different that the one he had from his pen. “Oh, it is… for sure… well… so…” he tried to think something up desperately. All he wanted was not to look like a fool in front of Roxie. She smiled, bowed her head and closed her eyes. She had been doing it quite often and Rein had to admit it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. He felt something like melting inside of his body and a soft shimmering all over his short coat. “That’s okay, Rein… I just… would like to talk with you,” she opened her eyes but her head remained bowed with respect.

“Of course, Roxie…” his nose pushed her chin up gently, “and please… your eyes are so beautiful. Don’t hide them in front of me.” Roxie licked his nose in return and looked around. “Look! Over there… that huge tree. Let’s go there, please!” She pounced around Rein and yapped quietly. Rein had no choice but to follow her and it was quite a pleasant choice. She laid down in the shade of the tree, watching him carefully. She nodded when he lay down by her side and asked:”Roxie, will you tell me something about you and your family?”

            “Sure,” she smiled again, pulling her chin against her chest and looked at Rein whose eyes were full of admiration. He loved her for being such cute. She was the first female he had ever spoken with (well, more than one or two sentences) and he was feeling great. “Oh... where should I- Ah, I know! I don’t remember the time when I was a pup too clearly. All I know is I had just one sibling. His name was… Reginald… or Reg? I don’t know. He had to go with my dad and I stayed with mum. She loved both of us so much and I remember how she comforted Reg when they cropped his ears. He was so afraid he would look terribly and mum told him she would love him whatever happens and that it was not about the look… but about the heart. She cried so much when he had to go. I tried to make her happy, and not only once, but she was so worried. But she knew dad was a strong and responsible dog. So eventually, she accepted it. Oh, and when I was leaving her, I promised her to visit her again with my own family. She doesn’t live far from me, but I have no chance to see her. All I know is she is okay. And that’s important.” Rein had been listening all the time. When she ended, he put his paw across hers and tried to do the same thing she had done before. When he pulled his chin against his chest, Roxie laughed. “You are so cute, Rein! And what about your family?”

            “I don’t remember my mum… my father never talked about her or my siblings. I do remember them, tho’. I have one sister. Yep, it is possible I had even more siblings, but I remember just her and my mum. Both of them loved me. But my dad…” and he told her everything. Her expression had changed several times and when Rein ended, she nuzzled him softly. “And do you think you are a strong and good dog, like your father wanted?”

            “I… don’t know,” Rein sighed and looked at the master, who had come meanwhile. “I am so sorry to disturb you two, but we have to go… mum called.”

            “Mum?” Rein blinked at Roxie. “Who is this?”

            “Oh, his wife! She is so amazing! You will like her! She is like your Clare!”

            “Can’t wait to see her,” Rein grinned as they were leaving the park and heading to the pound. Roxie looked at him and nuzzled him tenderly. “I like you, Rein…”

            “Same here, Roxie…” he wagged his tail and licked her cheek. Her slender body, her floppy ears… her smile… her presence. Those things made him feel something new… something inexperienced… She stopped and leaned her head, looking directly into his eyes. “I feel so happy when you are around…”

            “Here you are,” Ian’s bored voice greeted him. Rein nodded. “I think the next visit, they will take you… you lucky bastard. So… how was the bitch?”

            “Amazing, bro’, amazing. But before you start thinking about-“

            “You filthy, naughty dog!” Ian laughed, “of course I am thinking of it!”

            “Then sorry… nothing like that happened.”

            “Yet…” Ian couldn’t resist. “So… you will be out, soon…”

Rein averted his eyes. He couldn’t look at Ian any longer. He had become his brother, they had learnt a lot about each other. They liked each other. But… it was so unfair. Rein turned away, but he felt Ian’s look full of sorrow and envy and helplessness. Ian knew he would be alone, again.

            The man and Roxie visited him every day. And their walks were longer and longer. They usually went to the park, where Roxie accompanied him happily and Rein noticed she was averting her eyes and blushing every time he was talking to her. And one day when they were  parting, Roxie licked his cheek. She pressed her head against her chest and smiled. Rein just stared at her with his confused eyes. Then he realized and smiled too. She had said a lot of things that had been full of love with just one kiss. Yes, he wanted to tell her the words that can make you happy. Or confused and shocked. He didn’t say them. He was sure she knew.

            The next day, Roxie and the master came again. But not alone. The master’s wife was with them. They greeted the woman who ran the pound and headed to Rein. Rein jumped up again and started wagging his tail. When they came closer, the woman gave him an inspective look.

“Hun, he is awesome,-“ NO! Rein knew what was going to be the next word. And he didn’t want her to say it. “-but… we can’t have him…” Damned BUT!

“Why?” The man raised his eyebrows and scratched his cheek. “He… he is a Doberman. A male one. We don’t know him… and… moreover… I wanted it to be a surprise but I want to say it now. We will have a baby. That’s the main reason.” The man gasped. Then, the state of a deep shock was replaced by joy. He hugged his wife, lifted her up and laughed. “Love! That’s fantastic! That’s so-“ Roxie was surprised… well, shocked. Shocked, because she knew what it meant. She sobbed once or twice. “Rein…,” she whispered, unable to look at him. Rein didn’t get anything. Why were they happy? And why was Roxie sad? And… why wasn’t this situation appealing to him? “I… I am so sorry, boy… but… something has happened. And I didn’t know. You… you have to stay here. We can’t give you home…,” the man looked at the Doberman and sighed. “Come, Roxie, we are going home,” he whispered.

Rein couldn’t believe it… everything he dreamed of was going away without a suitable excuse… without a sensible reason. “Roxie! Roxie!? What... what is this supposed to mean?” he cried, but Roxie didn’t answer. She looked at him and her eyes that had been full of happiness and joy the other day, were reflecting sadness and a great sorrow. “Rein…” She whispered back. “Re-“

            No! Her brother… His name wasn’t Reg… His name was short and it began wit R too, but not Reg. She thought about it a lot last night… about the things she told him. And his scent… all the feelings she had when she was with him… And his story… not, this is not a coincidence! Her brother’s name is REIN!                   

            She gasped. It was so clear. Her only brother… his only sister. “Rein!” She cried and jerked, for she wanted to get from a leash. The master was surprised so she managed to rip the leash from his palm and to run to Rein. She began to kiss and nuzzle him all over his face and neck. “Rein… Rein… I am your si-“ but she didn’t manage to complete her response. The master picked her up. “Shush, girl… calm down. I know you like him... but we can’t…”

            “You are my what?” Rein gasped, trying to catch Roxie’s last words. But she was too far away. “Your si-. And I think she wanted to say ‘sister’ or ‘sibling’. Well, of course, there are more words beginning with si-, but I think those two are the most probable.” Ian yawned.

“Roxie!” he shouted. And then, he saw her for the last time… she and her family disappeared behind the pound walls. He collapsed to the ground and cried, mainly because he didn’t know what else to do. “Oh… oh… come on, Rein… dobes aren’t supposed to cry. They are said to be strong and loyal and fierce dogs… and you are one…” Ian wasn’t good at comforting. Not good at all.  

            The next week was so full of… nothing. Rein just lied in his pen, doing nothing at all. He didn’t eat. Once again, he could have been happy, but something (or someone) hadn’t wanted him to be. Ian had been trying to cheer him up