Work Excuse

I’m sorry, I can’t come into work today because my dog died.

I know it seems like a trivial reason, but you don’t know this dog. His name is Buster, and he’s the ugliest dog you’ve ever seen! I can almost hear you thinking Not only is he calling off work because his dog died, but he’s calling off because his UGLY dog died!

That’s right. He’s the ugliest and oldest dog you’ve ever known, and he’s the reason I can’t come to work.

If he’s that old, you should have been ready for it. His death should not have been a surprise. It wasn’t a surprise, and I saw it coming. I should not have been surprised, but I was surprised.

I thought he was eternal. I thought he would never die. I thought he would never die in the same way a child never thinks their grandparent will die.Buster was the best friend a man could have. I know, that’s cliche. A dog is man’s best friend.

Buster was there for me through many tough times; and he never left me; and he never judged me. When my wife left and said I was an s.o.b., Buster never thought that, and he never left. He was there day and night. He ate his food and relieved himself and curled up at my feet, just like he always had. He never believed a word Gretchen said about me.

When the bills got behind, and men came to take away my things, he didn’t care. His food was there and the yard was there and I was there. That was all he needed. He never said that I failed him or that I was a loser. Those thoughts never crossed his mind.

When I finally got a new job, he never once thought less of me for flipping burgers. As a matter of fact, he liked that job, because I sometimes brought burgers home to him.

I can’t come to work because my ugly, old, dog who never left me and never judged me has died. I can’t leave him, either. He truly is the best friend I’ve ever had. I will be in, tomorrow. I will be there to flip your burgers and to provide service with a smile, but it will hurt my heart every time a burger hits the floor or is returned by a customer. It may draw a tear because I don’t have anyone to take it home to.

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