Puppy

I was walking home from my bus stop one winter afternoon and I had this very strange feeling that we were going to get a dog. 

We lived in Navy housing where all the houses looked exactly the same. Large boxes split in two and shared by two families. If someone was arguing with someone you could hear it on the other side. If someone smoked in the house, you could smell it on the other side. 

The street behind my house was on a large hill and the closer to the bottom of that hill, the more excited I became. Cutting through the side yard of our neighbor's house and into my backyard, my hear rate increased.

I started to open the back door and before I could open more than a crack, I heard her say, "Close your eyes and hold out your arms."

I did as I was told, kind of knowing what was coming. With my eyes closed, and arms open, a furry wiggly little thing was placed into my arms. My eyes opened to see a black ball of fur trying to escape me. I almost started crying. I had wanted a dog, or a kitten, for so long. My instinct had been right. We did indeed get a dog.

I grew up, went to college but didn't forget him. I came home for Christmas when I was 23. Sitting on the floor, opening presents, he came up to me and laid down in my lap. 

I lived to be a very old dog and when he passed she called me in tears. I still think about you little dog. One of my first real friends.