Robert owned many things houses, horses, stocks and bonds, companies and real-estate, with wealth came hobbies and he bought them with the same eye of detachment as he did a piece of property. He once sold a valley outside of Baltimore, A stretch of rolling hills and forests transversed by an old two-lane highway. The road dated back to before the Revolutionary war. Buildings carriage stops and old brick taverns that had been built right up to the edge of the road during the 1700’s were still in use. They had been built in a time before the need for parking lots. The driver of a carriage or wagon would simply stop in the middle of the road dismount and go in to a tavern for a drink a meal or supplies. There was no traffic to speak of and if another wagon came along it simply veered around the carriage and horse left standing in the middle of the road.

     Times had changed and since the 1940’s cars speeded down the now paved road passing with less than a yard of clearance just nearly missing the old buildings. The revolutinalry era taverns had become gas stations with mechanics in the 1950’s by the 1980 the old pumps were gone and the stores had evolved into gourmet grocery and bakerys serving bagels and lochs. What had remained of the past was the slow to anger politeness of the people, a love for old ways and traditions. A love for the land and a love of civil conversation. Robert sold this valley to an energetic young developer who divided the property into 1-acre lots and sold them to professionals who worked in and around the Washington, Baltimore area. The deal came down before the gentle minded locales could form an action committee. The deal was done with a wink and a nod and lots of cash exchanged. Only a group of hippies and a Jewish lawyer continued to fight the developer as moving vans brought the furniture of new-excited property owners to their stylish new homes.

     Robert lived at the end of the valley on an old farm with a beautifully refurbished house and barn. He left his coffee on the porch and walked out to see his hunting dogs, bright minded English setters. He saw William his part time caretaker and dog trainer working a dog. Robert watched from a short distance as William took Roosevelt through his paces. The dog moved with excited grace to William’s hand and whistle commands. The dog was a 1/8 of a mile from William when it found the hidden decoy bird and softly picked up the toy turning then racing back to Williams’s side with its prize. The love between dog and trainer was deep and joyous, As William flopped on two knees pulling the dogs ears Roosevelt smiled, pranced and rubbed his face into Williams’s chest. Robert came up from behind a bit embarrassed by the intimacy between dog and trainer. Speaking as if to an audience at a how to improve your life seminar he announce his presents by asking William “which is better love or ownership?” William resting on his knees with the dog beaming in his hands said nothing. No laughed Robert Ownership, ownership is the power to break the heart of you and that old dog. He turned away walking up the hill whistling a Song of the South.

back to Creative Writing