Milo's Journey

Chapter 13

Tonight’s chapter binge for Milo’s Journey starts here. Don’t forget to click on the link below to move to the next chapter. Only this chapter will be sent via email.

Milo woke up to the poke of a cold, wet puppy nose on his chin, followed by a low-pitched arrff and enthusiastic licks to the face. He opened his eyes and saw two large brown eyes in an adorable brown and gray face staring back at him.

“Hello, little one. Yes, I know it is time to wake up,” Milo said, scratching the puppy behind the ears. Piyelito leaned into the attention, closing his eyes in pleasure.

“Arrff,” the little dog barked, looking at Milo.

“Okay, okay, yes, we will go see your girlfriend. Give me a minute to get dressed,” Milo laughed at the puppy’s attachment to Cachita. He had watched them the day before as he did his chores and took care of the animals. The puppy bounced and ran around with Cachita, and Cachita, as big as she was, was so very careful to make sure she didn’t step on Piyelito. Piyelito and Cachita were becoming very good friends.

Milo finished tying his sneakers and headed for the bedroom door. He whistled, and Piyelito jumped off the bed and followed him into the kitchen.

Milo gave his mother a kiss and went to the fridge to get some orange juice.

“Good morning, mijo. Good morning, little prince,” Natalia said to the puppy, who was sitting patiently by his bowl. She brought over some leftover chicken from last night’s dinner and put it in his bowl. Piyelito looked up at Natalia.

“Yes, Piyelito, that is for you. Enjoy.”

The little dog barked once and began to eat.

“You are welcome,” Natalia said, smiling.

After breakfast, Milo headed out to the barn to do his morning chores before school. Piyelito raced out ahead of him and slipped through the slightly open barn door. Milo opened the door and watched the little dog race to the back stall where Cachita was. He sat in front of the stall and let out a little yap. Milo heard an answering moo, and then the little dog slid through the slats of Cachita’s stall gate. When Milo reached the stall, Piyelito was ensconced on Cachita’s hay, with the cow gently licking him as she would a calf. Piyelito was in heaven as he lay there, letting Cachita give him a thorough grooming.

“Okay, you two, come on. Time to go out in the sunshine,” Milo said, opening the stall gate for Cachita.

The puppy looked up at Cachita and gave a little yap before jumping down and racing out into the pasture.

Cachita followed Milo out and trotted to the end of the meadow where the other cows were waiting for her. Piyelito lay in the grass watching the cows as if he were their protector. Milo finished the rest of his chores, leaving the little dog and the cows in each other’s company.

When he was done, Milo returned to the pasture fence and whistled for the pup. Piyelito raised his head, saw Milo, and came racing over.

“Okay, little brother, I have to get ready to go to school and see your master. Will you be okay without me today?” Milo said, scratching the puppy’s belly as he lay in the grass by Milo’s feet.

“Rrrff,” the puppy responded, rolling over and then sitting up.

“Okay, great. Stay with Cachita, and if you get hungry or thirsty, just go to the house and Mama will give you food and water,” Milo said, looking into the puppy’s eyes.

“Rrrrf,” the dog replied before running back into the meadow and flopping down in the grass beside Cachita and the other cows.

Milo got off the bus and waved to Jose, who was waiting by the school steps. Jose waved back and walked over to meet him halfway up the walkway.

“Hola, querido,” Milo said, taking Jose’s hand as they walked the rest of the way to school.

“Hey, mi amor. How’s my baby?” Jose said, squeezing Milo’s hand.

“Piyelito is fine,” Milo said teasingly.

“Milo, you know I meant you,” Jose said, hitting Milo softly on the arm.

Milo started laughing. “I know, querido. I just couldn’t resist.”

Jose smiled at him and then said shyly, “Okay… how is Piyelito? You’re taking good care of him, yes?”

“Piyelito is fine. Cachita and Mama are babysitting him. In fact, he slept on the foot of my bed last night.”

“I’m glad he’s doing okay. I had terrible dreams last night, and Piyelito was there. He saved me in my dream, but he wasn’t a puppy. He was a huge flaming dog with a collar of skulls and burning red eyes. I should have been afraid, but I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. I knew he was there to protect me. It was a weird dream,” Jose said, shaking his head.

“Sounds terrifying, querido. Are you okay?” Milo said, stopping to look at him more closely.

Jose knew what Milo was searching for and waited quietly.

“Okay. Campanita says you’re fine and I shouldn’t worry. She and the prince will watch over you today, and if anything goes wrong, they will come find me,” Milo said softly, almost to himself.

Jose understood this about his friend. Milo stood with one foot in the spirit world and one foot in the human world. He had straddled both worlds since the day he was born, and Jose and Diego had stood beside him when others were cruel and called him crazy. Now that Milo was his, Jose promised himself he would never leave his side again. Even if all the spirits of the dead stood in his way, he would fight to stay with him.

Impulsively, Jose hugged Milo and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Milo, and I’m never going to leave your side, no matter what.”

Jose pulled back, tears glistening in his eyes.

“I love you too, querido. Never doubt that,” Milo said, smiling as he wiped away the tear rolling down Jose’s cheek. “Let’s get to class before we’re late.”

They walked down the corridor toward their first class.

Later that day, Milo saw Adriana in the courtyard at lunch. She and Diego were sitting in the shade of a palm tree. Milo walked over and sat with them.

“Hey, Milo. Where’s Jose?” Adriana asked.

“He should be here in a few minutes,” Milo said, kissing Adriana on the cheek. He reached over and shook Diego’s hand. “How are you, hermano?”

“Good, Milo. Y tú?” Diego said, smiling.

“I’m good—just worried about Jose. He told me about a dream he had last night, and it disturbed me in my spirit, though I didn’t know why. I don’t want him to know I’m worried, so please don’t mention it,” Milo said as he waited for Jose.

Diego glanced up and saw Jose crossing the courtyard.

“Diego, Adriana, mi amor,” Jose said, sitting beside Milo. Milo reached for his hand.

“Querido, how is your day going?” Milo asked, pulling out the empanadas his mother had packed. He handed two to Jose and began eating the others.

Jose took a bite and smiled, transported to culinary heaven as he savored Natalia’s empanadas. Milo laughed at the expression on his face.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re only with me because of my mother’s cooking,” Milo teased.

“No, mi amor, I love you for you. But your mother’s cooking is icing on the cake,” Jose said, leaning over to kiss him.

“Okay, okay. I believe you,” Milo said, taking another bite. “Adriana, can you ask your parents to come to my house this evening for dinner? I think we should tell our parents what the grandfathers told us about our heritage.”

Adriana nodded. “Yes. My father is home this week, so I can definitely ask him and Mama to come.”

“Querido, can you and Diego come as well?” Milo asked.

“Sure. I’ll call my dad and tell him I’m eating at your house,” Diego said, pulling out his phone.

“My mom already knows I’m going to your house to see Piyelito,” Jose said, rolling his eyes. “She’s happy I have a dog, but even happier he’s staying on the farm.”

Milo laughed. “Well, I think Piyelito is happy there too. I don’t think he’d want to leave Cachita. The two of them are becoming an item.”

They finished lunch laughing and joking. When the bell rang, Milo kissed Jose and Diego kissed Adriana. They promised to meet out front after school and head back to Milo’s together, then went their separate ways to class.