19
(Patrick’s Perspective)
When I was five, on my way home, I saw a little dog drooling in front of the lamb stew stall.
He was lost, so he picked up the bone the stew man gave him and followed me like a shadow.
I asked the witch nanny to take him home, but she kicked him. Hard.
The little dog got so mad he dropped his bone. He bared his teeth and scared the witch nanny away.
She left me there, all alone.
I was sad. The little dog picked up his bone again and wagged his tail at me.
Human, don’t be sad. Dog will walk you home.
I looked up, surprised. “Are you talking to me?”
Yep! It’s me!
“Little dog, do you have a mom?”
The little dog puffed out his chest proudly. Of course! My mom is the best! She’s a hero to all dogs!
I looked down and kicked at a pebble. “Everyone has a mom except me. The kids at school say I’m a stray.”
The little dog ran circles around me. Human, don’t be sad. Dog has a big, strong chest you can lean on.
I started to cry. The little dog licked my hand and made me a solemn promise.
Human, Dog will share his mom with you.
We made a pinky promise. He walked me all the way home, then wagged his tail and said he would bring his mom to come and get me.
Later, I secretly asked the calico cat in the courtyard, and the little white dog at the kindergarten gate. None of them had seen the little dog again.
The lamb stew man was gone. The little dog was gone.
The little dog was a liar! He never came back.
The witch nanny said I was crazy for talking to cats and dogs.
Daddy took me to see a doctor, but all I did was wait for the little dog and his mom to show up.
One day, the little dog finally came back. He brought his mom with him, but I had made a huge mess of the
house.
I felt terrible. I ran back to my room and changed into my nicest clothes. Maybe then the little dog’s mom
would like me.
The little dog danced around me happily. That’s when I learned he had a nice name: Buddy.
Buddy wasn’t a liar. He really did bring his mom to find me.
Now, Buddy and I both have a mom.
