The Dog as Companion and Kin

This flow follows Joachim(Jocki)’s devotion to the family dog from childhood alliance to blood pact and difficult farewell.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Place Beside the Dog

A Place Beside the Dog Comfort When Joachim(Jocki) is unhappy, he lies against the dog and tells it that nobody else understands him. The animal becomes a reliable ally in a household of teasing and conflict. Affection He feeds it secretly, removes burrs from its fur, and seeks physical closeness. His devotion is personal even though the dog is formally his brother’s.

The Blood-Brother Plan

The Blood-Brother Plan Inspired by Adventure After seeing a blood-brother scene on television, Joachim(Jocki) wants to share the dog’s blood. He takes a scalpel and lures the animal into the basement. Accident The dog recoils, and the boy cuts its paw more deeply than intended. Trying to join their wounds, he cuts his own hand and binds them with a shoelace.

The Bloodied House

The Bloodied House Panic The frightened dog escapes, leaving blood on a new carpet. Joachim(Jocki) tries to clean it with bleach, removing the carpet’s color as well as the stains. Confession and Care Hermann discovers the scene, takes both injured companions for treatment, and stitches them. He advises the boy to keep the episode from his brothers.

The Dog’s Distance

The Dog’s Distance A Costly Bond Joachim(Jocki) proudly tells his brothers what happened, but their teasing turns the blood pact into a source of humiliation. The dog remains wary of him and refuses to enter the basement together. Damaged Trust The narrator’s wish for absolute closeness has frightened the creature he loves. Their bond survives, but the animal’s fear becomes a lasting reminder of the limits of affection.

The Last Chocolate

The Last Chocolate Choosing Mercy The dog’s cancer and failing breath force Joachim(Jocki) and his mother to decide on euthanasia. He struggles with guilt about his role in the decision and with the dog’s connection to his dead brother. Farewell He gives the dog a whole Bounty before the procedure and later buries it at the cottage. The childhood blood brother becomes a beloved dead companion.

Throughout Joachim(Jocki)’s childhood

During his boyhood

Immediately after the accidental cut

In the weeks after the blood pact

Years later, during the dog’s final illness