Diego and the Dogs

 

He has had to use the restroom for over an hour. Diego was happy the van was finally coming to a stop. To quell the pressure, he has had his knees to his chest for the past fifteen minutes. If they hadn't stopped, his guts would have exploded all over the van's upholstery.
 

They were halfway to his grandmother’s ranch in central Mexico. They were stopping at his cousin’s place for the night. His cousin lived in a remote location, away from most civilized amenities, such as a flush toilet. Diego didn't care, the restroom could be a hole in the ground, or a well placed bush.
 

When the van stopped, Diego and his father rushed up the stone path to the front door. His mother and sister were pulling overnight bags from the van. His father knocked loudly.
The door was answered by his uncle. He and his father exchanged greetings.
 

“Hola, amigo,” his uncle spoke to Diego. Diego smiled politely even as he was looking past him in search of the restroom. It was loud inside. Quite a few people had gathered to see them.
 

“Please come in,” his uncle said. Diego awkwardly stepped into the room; if he stood straight up, he would lose all bowel control. He scanned for a restroom door, nothing. More people came up to them, and more greetings were exchanged.
 

Diego tugged on his father’s shirt, giving him a wide eyed look. His father finally remembered. “Oh, my son here needs to use your restroom.”
 

“Si, si. It’s in the courtyard, outside. The dogs are loose, so let me gate them up first.”
His uncle left through a door and did not come back for what seemed to be hours. What was he doing, building the gate?
 

“Okay, amigo, sorry it took me so long the gate wasn’t working right, I had to rig it up.”
 

Diego rushed past him, almost toppling over from the pain in his abdomen. In the courtyard, he still did not know where to go. There were lots of plants, a blue wall, and a gate. Diego was so intent on finding the toilet, that he hardly noticed two giant Doberman pinschers barking behind the makeshift gate. Where is the toilet? Diego looked back to get the answer.
 

“It’s behind that wall, just around the corner.” His uncle pointed to the end of the blue wall.
Diego ran, half hunched over, and made a u-turn around the end of the wall. He was pulling his pants down, even before he rounded the corner.
 

It was a hole in the ground. No matter, Diego kicked off his pants and shoes and squatted. The relief that followed was one of the most splendid feelings of his young life. His mind unclouded, he was now able to hear the dogs. They had not stopped barking the entire time.
 

He finished with his business and grabbed the toilet paper, which was on the ground next to him. He heard a crash. The barking became louder. When he looked up, he saw two giant dogs, six feet away. They barked and bared their teeth. Their hackles up, their heads down, their saliva dripped to the ground. Diego stood straight up and froze.
 

Diego had read somewhere that one should not stare a menacing dog in the eyes. Instead, point and look at the ground right in front the dog. Then in a loud, firm, and confident voice, give the dog a clear command. One's tone of voice was more important than the actual words. Amazingly, his body and mind were quick to recall and implement this piece of knowledge.
 

He made himself look as big as a scrawny ten year old boy can look, pointed to the ground in front of the dogs, and let out a commanding “No!”
 

He repeated it, “No!”
 

The dogs stopped barking. They stood still, and he stood still. This was the longest three seconds of his life. The dogs turned and ran back into the courtyard. They started barking again.
Diego's blood rushed to his head. He started crying as soon as they left. His breathing no longer under his control, he shuddered, shook, and shuddered again.
 

Between shudders he was able to throw out a few yells. “Dad! Mom! Ayudame! Help!”
 

After five minutes of yelling over the barking of the dogs, someone finally came to his rescue.
 

“No, no, no!” He heard his uncle screaming at the dogs. They immediately stopped barking.
 

Diego stood frozen stiff. His father came barreling around the corner. Upon seeing his father, Diego's body went limp. He fell to the ground before his father was able to cover the six feet that had separated him from the dogs.
 

His father grabbed him and pulled him in tight. Diego heard him thank God that his only son had not been mauled by dogs.
 

Diego felt safe again. Numb, but safe, all he could do was cry.

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