Rufus: The Tale of a Dog

By David McCune

Rufus, come over here... Would you like to go on an adventure? I ask with an inquisitive tone in my voice. Without hesitation, Rufus is at my side ready to listen about an upcoming event. From a walk to Festival Park to flying beside me on an airline, Rufus is excited, appreciative and curious as to what will happen next...

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468545418

David McCune

David McCune is often referred to as a Renaissance Man. As a young child, David was always inventing or building some kind of new gadget. In his teenage years, he launched high altitude rockets with mice in the flight capsules. Later he built pollution control devices for the internal combustion engine. At nineteen, he started McCune Technology with an idea for a rear window louver for his Datsun 240-Z and a $35 dollar investment. Now in his fifties, he is a nationally renowned artist, entrepreneur and authority on Workforce Development. His latest endeavors are acting and modeling – David finds both jobs to be challenging and a lot of fun. He is currently finishing a book titled “Death Divorce Alzheimer’s”, an insightful true story and facts. David’s latest invention is the RUFUS - Rapid Universal Find Us System.

Book preview

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Four

A Note From The Author

About The Author

Rufus

Introduction

A t least once a day I’m asked, So what’s it like living in downtown? My response has been the same since I moved to the end townhouse at 300 Hay two years ago. This is the only place I considered to live when I moved back from the beach, I say with enthusiasm.

I enjoyed living on the island of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, for fourteen years prior to moving back to Fayetteville, North Carolina. Looking out at the ocean and watching the boats and ships travel the Intercoastal Waterway evoked a sense of constant movement.

In downtown Fayetteville, the intrigue and excitement of living here is also constant movement. Hay Street, like the living body of the ocean with tides and waves, changes from hour to hour. And, the train tracks are like the swift waters of the Intercoastal Waterway. Sure, the train’s whistles can be a little unnerving at times, but the ambiance and mystique of adventure as the wheels spin turn the sounds to a faint whisper.

The day always begins with Rufus, my Red Irish Terrier, and me walking to Festival Park. Depending on Rufus’ waking hour, this sets the day into motion. OK, little buddy, let me get your leash on your collar so we can head out this morning, I say as the leash snaps.

The front door closes and the cold air briskly strikes my face. I look down at Rufus as the wind rustles his red, wiry coat. Come on, Rufus, let’s go ahead and get the show on the road, I say, with a gentle tug to his red, retractable leash.

WHEN WILL MASTER quit pulling at me… I need to sniff and see just what’s been around the front door, sniff… sniff… sniff. He often forgets who is in charge of security at the fort. It is me, Rufus! Need to get this out at least once in a while! Now, going down to the walkway to nowhere and the big empty building beside the big grassed area. Must be one of those political jobs they talk about on 640AM. Love that channel, especially when Shawn Hannity comes on… makes me proud to be an American dog. Might just call in some day and give a dog’s perspective.

Yep, there’s the airplane that got caught in the wires. Been there since I was a pup. Would think that someone would have taken it down by now. Human government is so slow. Now, if dogs were in charge, we wouldn’t have gotten it stuck up there in the first place.

I have thought and come to the conclusion that what holds us dogs back are our paws, can’t do a lot with paws. But we have tails. And we can wag our tails twenty-five different ways to communicate. I saw a poor dog the other day that lost his tail. All he had was a little nub and attempted to wag. I couldn’t understand a word he said. It sort of reminded me of master’s new Paris Hilton bobble head doll. I don’t know what I’m going to do with him at times!

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Chapter One

A lonely, cold, Red Irish Terrier roams the isolated streets. Abandoned, he searches for food and security. An old cardboard box and a few morsels of food are his staples as he takes on the role of a street dog.

Drawn from instinct and in search of companionship, the scruffy little dog leaves the security of his makeshift home. Fast moving and noisy cars, trucks, and buses keep him on guard as he ventures out on his quest to discover his destiny. Three blocks away in a three-story townhouse, a lonely human soul patiently waits and the little dog is drawn toward his emptiness. A scratch at the door and a few travailing whimpers alert the resident of a visitor, and their connection is made.

Hey, little fellow… where did you come from? I smile as I lift the little dog and nestle him securely to my warm chest. You look sort of scared and lonely. Would you care to come in for a little treat? I ask. The dog’s eyes open wide, and his head sinks softly onto my shoulder.

I gently close the door and proceed to the elevator. I bet you’ve never been on one of these, I say, pushing the button to call the elevator to the first floor. The door opens, and the new noise and vibrations startle the dog. I need to close the door and we’re going to go for a little ride, I say comfortingly and slowly close the sliding door to the elevator. Having never experienced controlled vertical movement, the dog digs his nails into me during the short ride. The elevator stops and I place him on the soft carpeted elevator floor and then open the door. He quickly exits the elevator and runs to the warmth and smell of the kitchen.

Hey, little buddy, would you like some warm milk and a little bread? I eagerly ask. His tail, then his entire body begins wagging. This is one hungry puppy. Completely devouring the bowl of food in minutes, he ventures into the living room. Sniffing and scurrying, he finds a chair and a safe place to rest his legs. Moments later the curly red-haired puppy is sound asleep. A few hours later, with a slight yawn and a little twitch, the pup awakes to a safe, secure new world.

The little guy must be lost and his owners are frantically searching for him, I began to think. A quick trip to the animal shelter will be the best bet to find your owners and see if you have a microchip under your coat, I say, gently picking him up.

Riding in my car to the animal shelter, the young pup sleeps soundly in the seat beside me. "We’re here, little buddy, let’s see if these good people inside can tell me