The Rocket lived a comfortable lifestyle. Well, as comfortable as it can be for a Rocket that had to be confined to life in an urban home, in an urban neighborhood full of other people and pets. He was limited to long walks mostly on sidewalks (!) led on a leash (!) and then pulled away from limited opportunities to sniff (!) which was his only way to get news of his friends.
On the surface he seemed to be enjoying his life. That is because he was a “good dog”, he was compliant – walking where they led him, wearing a harness EVERY TIME HE LEFT THE HOUSE (!), and moving on when pulled away although he really, really wanted to investigate the odors in that clump of grass a little longer. But, oh no, he had to move on. He had to walk at their pace, steady and rhythmic so that they could get their heart rates up (with no concern for his). He had to “make nice” as they stopped to talk, and talk endlessly to others, introducing him to strangers and planning ‘Doggy Meet & Greets’ (!) He had to walk along the paths that they chose, missing opportunities for adventure. At times, it all made him long for the freedom of his former life in the country, forgetting about the danger he faced when he lived there in the wild when he was not cared for.
He kept these irritations and complaints to himself, only expressing them at times when he became overwhelmed with frustration, times such as when he chewed up her new running shoes (Ha!) and especially that time when he tore that hated harness apart, ripping it into shreds (Ha!). That was the backdrop of his days until finally, one day, his family got it right. He describes that happy day.
Finalmente lo hicieron bien
Y por final, mi espiritu estaba libre.
Mi familia me llama con un nombre,
Un nombre que significa fuerte y velocidad
Pero me mantienen en casa todos los dias mientras ellos “trabajan”,
o mas peor, hacer ejercicio (?) en la caminadora.
At last they got it right
In the end, my spirit was free.
My family calls me by a name that means strong and fast.
But I stay at home while they “work”
or worse, work out (?) on the treadmill.
La cosa mas peor es una cosa que esta alrededor de mi cuello
y con un linea a la mano*
No! No quiero usar el nombre de eso
Lo me odio.
Lo usan conmigo siempre cuando vamos afuera.
*No me gusta usar el nombre de eso porque es horrible.
Yo! Yo, El Cohete, quien tiene un nombre muy especial,
Mi nombre es de fuerza, de energia inimaginable, y es de velocidad.
The worst thing is a thing that’s around my neck
and with a line to the hand*
No! I don’t want to use the name of that
I hate it.
They always use it with me when we go outside.
*I don’t like to use the name of that because it’s horrible.
Me! I, The Rocket, who has a very special name,
My name is of strength, of unimaginable energy, and it is of speed.
Pues, fuimos a la casa del Abuelo y la Abuela para visitarlos.
Era un muy largo viaje en coche
Estaba cansada y en realidad, estaba aburrido.
El nino y su prima nos acompañararon
Ellos quisieron jugar.
Well, we went to the grandfather and grandmother’s house to visit them.
It was a very long car ride.
I was tired and really, I was bored.
The boy and his cousin accompanied us.
They wanted to play.
Cuando llegamos a la casa de los abuelitos
El niño y la niña abrieron la puerta a detras de la casa y –
When we arrived at the grandparents’ house
The boy and the girl opened the door behind the house and –
Dios Mio! Era increible! Tan maravilloso!
Era un Paradiso!
Un paradiso solo para mi, El Cohete,
Era un lugar de mi corazón.
Y, soy un muy contento – El Cohete que corriendo libre!
OMG! It was unbelievable! How wonderful!
It was a paradise!
A paradise only for me, The Rocket,
It was a place of my heart.
And, I’m a very happy – The Rocket, running free!
