Stryker and Chirrup (The Story of an unlikely Friendship)

       On the streets of Mexico lived a pup. He was lanky and colored brown and stood about two feet tall. He looked at the world with bright dark eyes and he loved the colors and smells that had to do with his village. He roamed free and slept in different places, sometimes with a full belly, and sometimes not. This particular morning the pup, who will be named Stryker, stretched his front paws out as far as they could go and let loose a huge jaw cracking yawn.

       When he raised his nose to smell the air of a fresh new day, he noticed his best friend on the clothesline over his head. “Hello Chirrup!”

       Chirrup cocked his head and squeaked, “Good morning Stryker, the day looks fine! I’m hungry, where should we start?”

       Stryker sniffed the air again. “I smell churros and that smells like the most delicious way to start this day.”

       He and Chirrup began every day with excitement, even if it was rainy or uncomfortable. They both were eager to find out what today would bring. On this day Chirrup hopped beside Stryker, marking the tempo of his walk with his comfortable squeak. Chirrup’s squeak was pronounced because of his relaxed round form. He liked, no loved, churros and he wasn't going to apologize for it.

       While they walked towards the churro stand, they didn't notice the man who catches dogs lurking close by. This man believed that dogs should have homes and families and not live on the streets. Stryker liked the streets because he had a family. He had Chirrup.                       Suddenly a movement startled Chirrup into the air and he squeaked a warning to Stryker, but it was too late.

Stryker was caught.

       “No! Let me go!”, he hollered to the man, but the man who catches dog didn't speak dog and he didn't understand. Chirrup squeaked and squawked but it didn't help. His friend was taken away and all he could do was watch from the wire.

        Oh how Stryker howled even when he was put in the kennel with other dogs. He howled all the while, wondering where  Chirrup was. He needed to hear his friend’s squeak.

        A few days later a woman came to see if Stryker would fit with her family. She felt that he did but she  needed Stryker to agree. The woman was lovely with a warm smile and kind eyes, the sort of eyes that really saw you when they looked at you. So after a lifetime of hiding, he was seen. Stryker decided he needed to trust someone and she seemed to be that person.

       They left together connected by a rope that was held lightly in her hand. She opened the door of one of those growly things that he had always avoided in the street and never gotten inside. With just a short hesitation, he jumped in what was called a car, and started a long journey. He moved further and further away from the streets he knew, and further and further away from Chirrup.

       Stryker loved his new home! In the morning food was provided and he didn't have to look for it. He now had a place to sleep and a family to protect, but most of all, he had his lady.

       One day she was holding something out to him. “Here you go”, there was a round object in her hand. “Catch Stryker!”

       All Stryker could see was something round flying towards him and it had squeaked before it left her hand.                      “Chirrup!” he thought, and raced happily to retrieve his friend. But what was this? It was shaped like his friend and it sounded like him too. “Oh no!’ was all he could think. His friend was trapped inside this object so Stryker began to chew. He chewed the ball to pieces out of concern for his friend. At last it was open! But what was this? Chirrup’s squeak was there but no Chirrup. Stryker was very careful with the song that came from the squeaker. Maybe someday Chirrup would arrive in the round fuzzy ball.  This happened again and again because the squeaker would break and after it was broken Stryker would howl in heartbroken protest.

       The lady would replace the sphere and again and Stryker would search in it for his friend but with no luck in finding him. One day his lady watched him as he howled over the loss of Chirrup’s song.

       She said, “ That sound means something to you, doesn't it?’. She held  his face and looked into his sad eyes.

        “It reminds you of someone or something I must've missed.” So she put Stryker back in the growly thing and they began the long way back to the streets of Mexico.               The growl was finally quieted and the connecting thing was put back on him and she said in a matter of fact tone, “So show me where we're going to look first.”                        Stryker started down the street listening for Chirrup’s squeak. He would know his squeak anywhere but he still hadn't heard it. They walked and walked and he was afraid his lady would give up, but she never did.

        Stryker was getting discouraged and then he heard it! “Squeak!”

       Strykers’ head came up and he yanked his lady forward so fast that she nearly fell on him.

       “Squeak!” Again he heard it. His friend was near but he couldn't see him.

       “Where are you?” he anxiously called. “I can't find you!”

       Overhead he heard the most beautiful sound ever. A real, true to life squeak! Chirrup spiraled down to his friend and cast a wary eye on Stryker’s lady. “She's good people, and we're coming to take you to our house. It can be yours too.”

       Stryker pleaded with imploring eyes to his lady. “He can come with, can’t he?”

        “Well,” she said, “We didn't come all this way for nothing.” She patted her shoulder as an invitation and he flew to this unfamiliar but very comfortable perch.

       Together the three left the street behind for a new home in America. Stryker never imagined the life that he has now, but oh how lovely it was to get to share it with Chirrup. Now the fuzzy yellow packages weren't needed anymore. His family loved Chirrup’s song as much as he did and because Chirrup was happy too, he squeaked ….. a lot.