Chapter 25 - The bowl
What happened to the metal dog bowl?
Margaret threw it away.
At least she claimed she did.
I did not care.
Murphy the Labrador had another.
No symbolic burning.
No evidence locker.
No museum.
The bowl itself was not dangerous.
Meaning had made it cruel.
One afternoon at Daniel’s apartment, Evan was filling Murphy’s travel bowl while Margaret visited? Wait dog belongs Margaret. Better Robert kept Murphy after divorce? Let's say Robert took Murphy because he handled most care.
At Robert’s condo, Evan filled Murphy’s metal bowl with kibble.
I watched.
My body tightened for one second.
Evan did not notice.
He set it down.
Murphy ate.
Normal use.
Object restored to object.
That mattered more than destroying it.
Later Evan joked:
“Murphy eats like an animal.”
Robert looked at me.
I looked at Evan.
He grinned.
Dark humor had arrived on his terms.
I laughed.
So did Robert.
May you like
No fear.
No child as punchline.
