I bump into something. Ouch! I hurt my snout. I put my leg to my nose like there's something on it. I lower my nose to the floor and wipe the pain off. I take a few sniffs in the direction I was headed. Is there something there? I smell wallpaper. It's peeling a little bit and flakes. It's old and stale. 

I ran straight into the wall!

I hadn't even seen it! I need to be more careful! I continue walking down the hallway when I step on something. It honks! I back up and use my nose to see what it is. It smells like me. Like my breath. It's my toy! I stepped on a honking toy! But where did it come from? It appeared out of nowhere! I really need to pay attention to what I'm doing!

"Love? Have ya' seen the way Charlie's been walkin' lately?"

"What do you mean?"

I step on another toy! I almost topple over after losing my balance! This house is a mess! I sniff my way to my food bowl. 

"You mean he's...."

"Yeah.....I was afraid this day would come...."

I walk straight into something. It clangs around and I hear something scatter. Like little small pebbles falling in every direction. My food! I spilled my dog food! I'd better clean it up straight away! I use my nose to find the kibble and lick it up. 

"Poor guy...."

**********

There's a light in my eyes. I can't see it very well but I can tell it's bright. I try squirming away from it but something holds me still. It's my owner. Finally the light turns off and I blink. That was very uncomfortable. 

"You say he's eleven years old?"

"Right, 'bout eleven an' a half."

I can tell where I am. I hate it here. It smells like fellow dogs which is comforting. But it also smells like sick and dying dogs. Which makes me tremble. The man strokes my back and pets my ears. I can faintly see someone with blue hands in front of me. I don't recognize his scent. 

"He's about that age where it starts. He's not completely blind but he's definitely losing it."

Whoever this person is lifts my ear and sticks something cold in it. I hold still but I want to go home. I'm very uncomfortable. 

"Think he's losing his hearing too."

"Think we ought to jus'...give him a full check up?"

"If it would make you feel better, sir."

**********

I curl up on the couch after the man sets me down. I've been grabbed left and right and poked and prodded all morning and I'm very tired and unhappy. I lick my paws to take my mind off things. 

"What did the vet say?"

I can feel the couch shift as the man sits next to me. I lick his arm. "Charlie's an old man, Linda. Not much we can do for him except take care of him."

"Poor thing."

I feel hands on my back. I sniff around and I know it's my owners. They're both petting me. I stick my tongue out and try licking them but I can't seem to reach. So I lick myself instead. "The kids will have to be extra careful with him."

Where is all this extra attention coming from? I'm not complaining but I'd like a solid answer. Maybe they saw the mess I made outside the other day and are proud of me. I'm rather proud of it myself. 

**********

It's going to take some time getting used to this. It's been days now and I still can't see very well. I'll have to use my nose to help me navigate around the house. I can memorize the layout. As long as the humans don't move anything, I should be fine and not bump into anything! I won't let them down! I'll show them I'm not completely useless around here! Although I do still need help getting on the couch....

**********

My human plays guitar for us. I can't hear it very well but enough that it puts me at ease. The woman pets me and the children are enjoying it too. I can feel their footsteps through the floor. I can tell they're not walking but...not running either....they're dancing! The children are dancing to the music! How fun! I get comfortable on the woman's lap and sigh. This really is the best pack ever. Despite any hardships we've always managed to pull through. And I'll pull through this too. Who knows? Maybe it won't last forever. Maybe one day I'll see clearly again.