Abby And Andy

A Story by Willys Watson

Abby And Andy

On Saturday it was Abby’s tenth Birthday and, of course, there was a Birthday gathering of family, friends and some of her classmates. In the late afternoon, after everyone, except family, had gone home, Abby and her Parents were sitting around the Dinning Room Table, Abby’s Grandfather Carl, asked if Abby could visit him on Sunday, after Breakfast, because he had a possible gift for her. By possible, he said both her Parents and Abby will decide if she can accept the gift, telling Abby there will be a little responsibility involved, like caring for, feeding and giving attention to the gift when she could. And her parents and Abby said they would be there on Sunday, but asked if they could arrive Sunday afternoon.

What was waiting for Abby was in the large, fenced in backyard. So, she, her parents and, of course, her Grandfather went into the back yard. What was waiting for them was a Dog, not much older than four mounts, that her Grandfather told them he adopted from a local Animal Shelter and Sarah, a woman who worked there, told Carl is was like a mixed breed, certainly part Hound Dog and possibly part Golden Retriever. And it has already had it’s shots and it’s Dog Tag attached to a collar.

“This sweet guy is so cute, Grandpa. So does it have a name?”

‘Sarah said, for the moment until someone gave it a name, she called him Andy.”

“Mom and Dad, what do you think? I mean, if I say I’ll take care of Andy, feed him and give him love and attention can I keep him?”

“Of course, Abby, but it may take a few days before you can bring him home,” her Father Brian told her, then added, “By a few days, I mean, we will have to add a Doggie Door and a back yard Dog House, if he will use it, and certainly a cushioned Doggie Bed.”

“I’ll take care of installing the Dogie Door. I have the tools and just need to buy one from a local Hardware Store,” her Grandfather told them, then added, “ the Dog House and cushioned Doggie Bed you guys can figure out when and let me know. Until then, I’ll take care of Andy because I’ve already bought him enough Dog Food to last several weeks.”

After Supper, while sitting around a small table on their covered, wide back porch Abby turned to her Father.

“Dad, does that friend you have that went to college with you still build houses?”

“You mean Robert? Yes, he does, but you’re not wondering if he will build a custom dog House, are you?”

“Of course not, Dad. But he has that large Pickup Truck and maybe you can ask him to bring us a Dog House in the back of it?”

“I like that idea, Abby. But we would have to order it and pay for it first.”

“Yes, and because we have that Redwood Gate at the back of our yard it could be dropped off there,” her Father suggested,

“We’ll have to work out a time, because Abby will be in school tomorrow and, though she usually takes the School Bus home, she can wait for me until my High School class in History is over for the day and I can drive her home with me.”

“I like that, Dear. But the cushioned Dog Bed? It wouldn’t hurt to order two of then. One for the back porch and one for Abby’s bedroom. After Andy is House Broken, of course.”

“Okay, Dear. With the Dog House, I’ll order two of them.”

On Saturday, because there was no School, three of Abby’s neighborhood friends, Joanne, Dave and Lacy paid her a visit to meet her Dog and Andy proved to be gentle, loving and responsive. And he loved the four Tennis Balls Lacy brought for him to play with. With them getting along with each other Doug called Abby on her cell phone, asking her if he come bring his Dog Lulu over to see if Andy and Lulu would get along with each other. She was the first Dog Andy had been in contact with after he left the Animal Shelter and the two Dogs got along fine, even playing games, like chase, with each other.

After her visitors had left for the day Abby called her Grandfather and thanked him for the gift.