Paula And Pete

Paula And Pete

On Saturday Paula turned eight years old. And on Sunday she entered her Dad’s Sunday to talk to him in private.

“Dad, Mom told me yesterday that, if I wanted on, I could adopt a Cat or Dog from an Animal Shelter for my Birthday.”

“Yes, she did, Paula, and we talked about that in advance and agreed you could. But, by doing so, you need to understand a certain responsibility comes with you having a Cat or Dog. We’ll buy the pet food, but you will be responsible for feeding and making sure it has plenty of fresh, clean water to drink. And if you chose a Dog a little older than a puppy it should be taking for walks. And either a Cat or Dog will need attention, need to feel secure with you and living here. So, the question is, are you ready for the responsibility for caring for one?”

“I know Dad. My best friend Beth, who lives three houses from here, adopted a Dog she calls Lacy, has a large back yard and a Dogie Door on the back porch door so Lacy and go outside and back inside if she wants. And Beth has a Dog Bed in her Bedroom if Lacy want to spend the night inside.”

“The Dogie Door is a good idea when the weather gets colder or it’s raining outside.”

“Yes, Dad. We have a large back yard, but don’t have a Dogie Door.”

 

“That’s true, but your Uncle Carl is in the construction business and, when he has time, I’m sure he can install one. But let’s talk about you Mom now. We all know the car accident wasn’t her fault. And within a few weeks she could still drive, cook if she wanted to and take you to school because the research she does can do on-line at home. But, Honey, the constant limp in one leg, caused by the accident, will always be there. The point is, Paula, she can still do many things, but the Dog or Cat you pick out an the Animal Shelter will still your responsibility.”

“Yes, Dad, I understand, and I decided to adopt a Dog.”

“Well, Paula, I don’t have any appointments on Wednesday let’s go then as soon as your school is out and I will be waiting outside for you.”

“Thank you, Dad. You guys are the best parents I could ask for.”

After they arrived at the Animal Shelter Paula studied the Dogs that were up for adoption. Then she saw one she was interested in. She didn’t know for sure, but to her it looked like it was part Hound Dog and part something else, so she introduced herself to the woman there and asked her about.”

“Paula, I’m pretty sure he is part Hound Dog. But that’s all I can tell you. Someone left in here, in a closed, cardboard box, with holes in it’s top, and left an unsigned note saying. ‘I called him Pete and he’s maybe six months old, but we got transferred to a base overseas and can’t take Pete with us. All we ask, because we’re both in the military, is that you take good care of Pete and give him a lot of attention at first to let him know he’s safe and welcomed at your house. And you’ll find he is sweet, gentle and sometimes a bit play full like when he thinks he’s still a puppy. And he loves to play with Tennis Balls. And if you feel he’s not right for you please find him a home where he will be.”

“Well?” Miss Barns asked Paula.

“He’ll be fine with us and I already love him.”

“Okay. Just give me a moment to sign the adoption papers. He’s already had his shots and I will give you a temporary Dog Tag, and if you don’t have Dog Food at home, I’ll give your and your Father two week’s worth of Dog Food. And don’t worry, because the extra Dog Food has been donated to us.”

“Thank you, Miss Barns,” James Paula’s father told her.

The next Sunday afternoon, Lacy and Jeff and Carl, her neighborhood paid her a visit to meet Pete. Lacy bough some Dog Treats, Jeff some Dog Biscuits and Carl some more Tennis Balls. 

As the four of them watched Pete in Paula’s large back yard, the discussed several things, like having Lacy and Carl’s dogs meet Pete and somehow taking their dogs to the Dog Park.  Jeff didn’t offer to bring his Dog, Charlie, over because Charlie was much older than the other Dogs in the neighborhood, nor did he mention the Dog Park. But his friends already knew that.