Saying Good-bye to Dessey

by Kristin S.

 

I was on a roller coaster ride last summer.  Not one you ride on for fun at Kings Island, but an emotional one.  I was at the top of my roller coaster in the beginning of the summer, because I was just about to get my very first puppy!  Little did I know that I would hit rock bottom just a few weeks later.

In the beginning of the summer I found out that Gail’s Vizsla was going to have puppies.  Gail is one of my aunt’s friends.  I was so excited that I begged my parents, every second I could, to let me have one, until they said yes.  The morning I was going to get her, it was a pleasant June day.  That morning my dad called to tell us he had my puppy at his work in Frankfort.  Earlier I had decided to name her Odessey and call her Dessey for short.  After what seemed to be a horribly long drive, we were finally there!  When I saw her, I couldn’t believe it.  I thought I was dreaming; I finally had a dog!  

When we got home, we took her to the backyard and let her run and play.  It was awesome having a puppy!  I always had someone to play with, but it was also a lot of work.  I had to sleep in the basement the first few nights, and wake up to her crying every four hours and take her out.  Going swimming at my grandparents’ house was also a problem.  We could only be gone for about two hours before I had to be home again to let Dessey out. 

After that, everything started going downhill.  We couldn’t take our usual day trips that we go on during the summer.  Also, if I wanted to go to a friend’s house, I couldn’t stay very long.  When my friends came to my house, I had to stop and take the time to play and let her out.  I was always on edge because I worried about Dessey chewing the furniture or peeing on the carpet.  I did not want my mom to yell at me, and it was important that she learn to like Dessey, because she doesn’t like animals. 

Two weeks later, I talked to my mom and asked if I should give Dessey back.  I wanted to do the right thing for Dessey’s sake.  That night I decided to give her back.

I told my mom, “I can’t do this; I can’t care of Dessey all by myself.  If I have as much homework in seventh grade as I did in sixth grade, along with the time my tumbling classes take, I would not have much time to spend with her.  It just wouldn’t be fair to Dessey.  I mean, I would have time for her on the weekends, but she needs my attention every day.”

Later that night my dad took pictures so I would have something to remember her by.  We also played tug-o-war together.  She didn’t like the toy made of ropes tied in a figure eight I had gotten for her, so I used an old towel.  It was almost impossible to sleep that night.  I kept tossing and turning, dreading tomorrow when I would have to say goodbye to her.  When I finally fell asleep, it seemed but just a few minutes when I heard my mom call from the stairs to wake up.  I rolled over and stared at the clock on my bedside table.  After I got dressed and ate breakfast, my mom helped me load up all of Dessey’s things into the car, her toys, cage, dog food and towels.  I took her out to the field behind our house, to go to the bathroom for the last time.  This was definitely the lowest point of the summer, and most likely one of the worst days of my life.