Lights up on a campsite. Very simple in style. A tent is set up just right of center. A table for food is left of center. A few log stumps sit around what would be a fire if there was one. A man sits on a log stump. A dog, played by an actor, sits on the floor next to him.

Birds chirp and nature hums. Buddy looks around excitedly. Sir stays focused straight ahead, eyes not moving. A twig snaps and the sound of an animal running somewhere offstage is heard. Buddy jumps up excitedly to chase.

Sir: No, Buddy. Stay.

Buddy looks back reluctantly.

Sir: Stay.

Buddy sits.

Buddy: I’m sorry, Sir.

Sir: Good boy, Buddy. We can’t have you running off into the forest. You and I both know I’d never be able to find you.

Buddy: Oh, Sir, I doubt that, Sir. You are good at everything, Sir.

Sir puts his hand out and Buddy moves in to allow himself to be pet. With his other hand he grabs a seeing eye cane and stands up.

Sir: Who wants a treat?

Buddy: Oh a treat! I do! I would love it if you choose me, Sir. Please me, Sir. There is literally no one else around Sir–

Sir: How about a treat for my good little buddy?

Buddy: –and if you chose someone besides me that would be sad. A treat would be very, very, nice, Sir.

Sir tosses the whole bag of treats to Buddy. Buddy looks surprised at the bag.

Buddy: Sir… the whole bag? I don’t think you were supposed to give me the whole bag, Sir. I never have more than three. Let me assist you, I will bring you back the bag.

Sir: Enjoy them, Buddy. They’re all yours. 

Buddy: Sir… what is going on? Is something wrong, Sir? Can I be helping you in any way, Sir?

Sir: Hey, no it’s okay, enjoy your treats.

Buddy becomes entirely disinterested in the treats.

Buddy: Sir… why can everyone else here see? Something seems not right here. We’ve never been to this place before. And I haven’t seen any of my work friends. Usually when we do our trips I get to see my work friends and they’re with their Sirs like you. 

Sir: I know things have been different, Buddy. Just please enjoy. I wanted these two days to be your big days off. 

Buddy: But I never have a day off, Sir. Even right now, I’m working. 

Sir: I know, I know you still gotta help me, I just… I don’t know. Wanted to take you someplace for once.

Buddy: But I love working for you. You’re such a good Sir. It doesn’t even feel like work, it just feels like the best friendship a friendship can have.

Sir: I don’t know. We’re always doing stuff for me or that works for me. I’ve never had the chance to take you somewhere you wanna go. Every dog should go to the forest once. Be out in nature. Have all the exciting stuff to see. That’s why everyone comes here, y'know. So many beautiful sights to see.

Buddy: It is very beautiful. There’s so many trees. And I smell so much. I don’t know if you can smell all the stuff but it’s crazy.

Sir: You’re the best dog I could have asked for.

Buddy: Earlier I stopped to smell this rock and it had so many smells.

Sir: No, not dog. You’re the best friend I could ask for, Buddy.

Buddy: Another dog had peed on that rock that was why there was so many smells. It was great.

Sir: You just mean so much to me… I, uh… Man, I don't know what to say.

Buddy: There’s so many PeeMails to read here, I’ve been getting so much news.

Sir: Dammit, I don’t know how to even say this. I wish I could say it. Only don’t know how. I wish I could just grab you and, and… well, look at you.

Buddy comes out of his train of thoughts realizing Sir is saddened now.

Buddy: Sir… you don’t need to look. That’s what you have me for. I’ll be looking for you. Forever. 

Sir: Buddy, we uh. Well. We don’t have forever.

Buddy: No but, Sir. We do. That’s what I’m trying to say.

Sir: That’s why I thought it’d be nice to come here for a quick change. Do something fun.

Buddy: Oh, boy. I wish you could understand me, Sir. I know I’m 73 in dog years but I don’t have any retirement plans. I know I’m moving slower but I’m here with you. I just want you to understand that.

Sir picks up the bag of treats. He pulls one out.

Sir: Speak.

Buddy: What?

Sir: Speak boy.

Beat

Sir: Go ahead. Speak.

Buddy: Sir… are you okay? I think you’re about to-

Sir begins crying.

Sir: Damnit, Buddy, just speak. Speak. SPEAK. I’m trying to just give you your damn treats. I just want you to be a happy dog. I just want you… you… 

Buddy cowers at the frustration shown.

Buddy: Sir. Let me help you.

Sir: Buddy, no you don’t need to help. You’ve done enough.

Buddy: Let me help you, Sir. 

Sir: Buddy, no. Just speak. I’ve got a whole bag of treats for ya.

Buddy carries the dog treats back to Sir. 

Buddy: No, Sir. I’m not interested in the treats. You can say whatever you need to say… I think I understand.

Sir: You’ve helped me so much. It’s not fair to you. It’s not fair for you. You’ve worked for so long and always been there. I just wish I could return the favor.

Buddy: But, Sir. You have. In so, so many ways you’ve returned the favor. Remember when I got that piece of glass stuck in my paw? And you took me to the vet? I was playing and knocked over your favorite vase but you didn’t even care. Nope. You just took me straight to the vet and didn’t even worry about your vase. And that time I chased the skunk. I didn’t know what a skunk could do. They are awful. But you got so many cans of tomato juice. By the end you ended up smelling like skunk longer than I did. (chuckles) I could have got that skunk though. Stupid skunk.

Sir clears throat preparing to speak.

Buddy: And at the dog park! The dog park! Where I met Marylin. And you got so mad when we went off and started…

Sir: I’m dying, Buddy.

Buddy: Sir?

With slow understanding and unending loyalty.

Buddy: Sir.

Sir: I’ve been sick. You know this. Maybe not how sick I’ve been, but… yeah. I haven’t been as strong as I was before.

Buddy: That’s okay, Sir. I haven’t either.

Sir: I haven’t known how to tell you, Bud. I just couldn’t.

Buddy: I can help you, Sir. I can help you.

Sir: Buddy, no. Rest. 

Buddy for nearly the first time stops moving.

Sir: Buddy. I want this to be your treat. This trip. Here. You’ve helped me. You’ve been here for me. You’ve literally been my eyes. And I don’t know what happens when I’m gone. I don’t know what happens with you. I lost my first dog, Bern. And Bennie after that. But I’ve always had, well, you know. A companion. But I am so scared to leave one behind. It’s become your purpose with me. You’re so loyal. So damn loyal. Buddy I’ve come to grips with life. I’ve got what I needed. But Buddy… Damn, Buddy, I wish I was there for you. I wish I took you to the forest sooner. Shown you the snow. The beach. I… I just wish I could look at you playing and having the time of your life and, and...

Silence.

Buddy: There was also when we first met. I had just graduated. It was my last chance to graduate too. It was so very hard but I did it. They told you so many times. ‘This little guy had some challenges, we’ve got other options to select from. We’ve got others.’ But no. No, you just kept holding me. You just kept holding me. I always wish I could have told you. Every time you’ve held me that way, I’ve thought of that moment. I love it every time. 

As if he could hear Buddy speaking, Sir embraces Buddy in a hug. Buddy looks at Sir shocked, but then nuzzles in to return the hug.

Buddy: I love you. Sir.

Sir: I love you too, Buddy.

The End. For now.