Partners for Life

I was ready for action! I wore my black blouse with my black pants and my black sunglasses. I peeked around the wall to watch my younger brother eating at the table. Just like I planned. I looked back at my partner, Missy. Her curly blonde hair blowing in the wind of the air conditioner. I held my hand up.1

“Stay.” I said. She sat down, sticking out her tongue, and sat still. I nodded to her and went down on all fours, crawling towards the table. My brother watched me with a bemused expression on his face, his mouth full of milky coffee that Abuelito made him. I sat up on my knees when I reached the table. My brother stared down at me, not sure of what to say that could make me feel like an idiot, but I knew whatever he could say wouldn’t make me turn my back on my partner. I ripped off a piece of the French bread on his plate, stuffed it into my black bag, and I crawled away. My brother continued to watch, not being able to think of a line to say. I disappeared into the hallway and met up with my partner.2

“I got it.” I said taking out the piece of bread.3

“Good.” She said standing up. I kneeled. 4

“Nice doing business with you.” I said extending my hand out. She put her paw in my grip and we shook on it. I gave her the bread and watched her eat it with her heart’s content. This was my partner for life. Missy my dog. 5

Missy is a great dog. My dog is the kind that Ashley Tisdale has. Wait, let me rephrase that. Ashley Tisdale has MY type of dog. A Maltese/Poodle mix. They are amazingly expensive, but I got Missy for free. I remember the first day I met her. My mom brought her in the house in a Ralph’s Grocery paper bag. She was that small. She was taken out of the bag and her first impression was peeing on the ground. I knew from that very moment that I was in love.6

Over the years she’s grown. First she learned how to walk down from as high as a single brick. Then she learned how to not be afraid of her own shadow. She then learned to use the potty outside. After that she learned that teddy-bears are people too. I fell in love with her, even making movies about her. She was my friend that I had at home. Every day we went to Verde Park, which was right behind my house. There is a gate in our backyard that leads to the park, so it was like fate that we had a dog.7

I taught her how to Sit, Shake, Search, Lay, and Balance. Each time she got it right, I gave her a treat or I threw her a tennis ball. Sometimes the tennis balls would disappear so I had to throw her my Barbie doll that I had from years earlier. I had five dolls to start with. They are all in a better place now. 8

Sure, everyone thinks their pet is special. I bet if I said my dog was the greatest dog in the world, every dog owner who reads this will hunt me down! Dogs are great pets, just like cats and mice or any other pets someone dares to have. 9

I love my dog and would probably do anything for her. I can’t stand thinking about her leaving. I watched the movie Marley and Me, and when I pictured the characters as me and Missy departing for different worlds, I cried my heart out. And you know what? Missy heard me crying and she walked to me with her fluffy tail up swinging side-to-side in the air. She slept on my lap, and I stopped crying. My dog is as special as everyone else’s. And everyone’s dog is as special as mine.10

Wait! Who am I kidding? My dog is the best in the world!!!11

(Alright that was a joke. –please laugh right about now- and please no bad comments12