not the saturday i expected

I killed a dog today.
I ran over it in the middle of street.
I was suppose to be meeting with a friend at church to practise some stuff. She wasn't there. I tried to call her but she didn't answer. That wasn't a surprise. She doesn't always make it to the phone. So I thought I would drive by her house before I gave up on her.

Two girls were at dance. Youngest was in the back.
I was thinking random thoughts.
It was quiet.
I know the route.
I didn't expect anything abnormal.

Then a dog dashed across the road. I thought it came from in front of a van.
I swerved away, but couldn't react fast enough.
A thud. The shock. My brakes screeching.

I got out to see two kids, about 3 and 5, unloading from a van.
It was their dog. It was suffering in the middle of the road.
Their Mom hustled them inside the house.
One of the boys had opened their van door just before I passed and the dog jumped straight in front of us. It didn't have a chance. Doesn't make it easy though.

I have three girls and a dog. I know what it would be like if it was the other way around.
I wasn't suppose to be there at that moment. I shouldn't have been if plans had gone the way I thought.

Heavy-hearted.
Sad.