I Write Short Stories
How They Gave Her Up, I'll Never Know... My mother and father finally had the house to themselves after all of us kids grew up and started lives of our own. After so many years of working so hard and not taking care of himself, my father had to retire early and get on disability so he was home all day. My mother was working full-time, but was in her fifties and was starting to plan her own retirement in the next couple of years. One day my mother and I were talking on the phone and she mentioned that she wanted to get a dog. "A nice, little lap dog to keep Daddy company during the day while I"m working. I worry he gets lonesome in this house by himself" she said. I told her I would check the local paper and look in the classified section to see if anyone had a dog that would suit the two of them. She didn't want a puppy that they would have to train, but a full grown dog, already house-broken and one that would be good with children for when the grandkids would be over.
After a couple of weeks, I spotted a very small ad that said "Female Mixed Breed, Housebroken, Free To Good Home". I phoned my mom and told her that I was going to call and inquire about the dog. She said she trusted my judgement so if I went to see the dog and liked it, I could pick it up and bring it out to her. Then she added "I didn't tell your dad we were getting a dog". What?! Oh No! She never told him! "OK, but are you going to be home when I get there with a dog? You're not going to make me face him by myself are you? You know he's gonna pitch a fit!" She said that it would be fine and she had no plans to leave. Alrightie then.
I called the number and spoke with the owner. She explained that her husband got another job that provided company housing with a strict no pets allowed policy She went on and on about how wonderful this dog was and how well she was trained and how sweet she was. She described her as long haired and about 50 lbs., so she was a little bit bigger than your average lap dog, but everything else sounded great. I had to ask the woman if the dog was good with children and she said "Oh! We have a 2 year old little boy and she's wonderful with him......but, the dog doesn't like B-L-A-C-K people." "Ummmmmmm, excuse me?!" She went on to explain that about a year prior a couple of black boys tried to break into their house and ever since then, whenever the dog would see a couple young, dark-skinned black men, she would growl and bare teeth. Right there I was put in a very peculiar position. Being a person of color, I was a little offended. But, she said she had a 2 year old and she spelled the word out which, if she was a bad person or a racist, she would've said something a lot worse, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Also, I felt it was necessary to let her in on the fact that I was a person of color because I got the sneaking suspicion she did not know that and I wanted to come and meet the dog. I'm sure she will be quite embarassed. I had a little bit of a problem on my hands. I did the only thing I knew to do. I said "Well, I am interested in the dog but I am afraid to come over and meet her." When she asked me why, I simply said "Because I am a B-L-A-C-K person". "Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" and we both laughed.
She gave me directions to her house and it was only about ten minutes from my place so it took no time at all. I parked the car, looked up and saw a woman in her early 30's, a cute little 2 year old boy and a big, fluffy, beautiful dog on the porch. The dog's name was Dawn. Her fur was white and tan and extremely soft to the touch and her eyes were a beautiful shade of chocolate brown. I put my hand out to let her sniff me and I felt perfectly comfortable doing so. I reached up and patted her and she leaned into my hand just a touch, almost like she was enjoying me touching her. Like she appreciated meeting me. She seemed so well behaved sitting there without a leash, not wanting to run away, just sitting next to her humans, being a good girl. I really liked this dog. I told the woman that my mother wanted a dog but that I had just found out that this is going to be a total surprise to my father. The company her husband was going to work for wasn't moving them for a month yet so she said we could have Dawn for a couple of weeks and if my father was really against it, that I could bring her back and that she would re-run the ad.
The woman gave me some instructions, told me the kind of food she liked, told me the tricks she could do and even demonstrated a few. She gave me a few of her toys that she liked and her feeding bowls. But then it was time to say good-bye. The woman gave her a big hug and started to cry. Her son saw his mother and then he followed right along with her and his tears started to flow. Although I was excited about the dog and anxious to take her, I felt like I was breaking this little boy's heart and found myself getting a little choked up too. His mother picked him up and cuddled him and told me that it was alright to go. She assured me her son would be fine and that it was near his bedtime. So I put Dawn in my car and I was soon to introduced her to my Mom and Dad. Or so I thought...
I pull up in my parent's driveway and there was something missing. My mother's car! She remembered she had to run an errand and I had to face my father alone. I couldn't believe she did that to me! I looked at the dog and said "Oh well. Let's go meet Daddy"
My father had a very "colorful" way of talking when he was angry. I knew it was coming. I knew I was going to get an earful. We came into the house and my dad was in the back watching TV. "Hey Daddy. Where's Mommy?" I said and within a second or two I could hear him turn off the television and get out of his recliner. I stood there with the dog sitting next to me in the middle of the living room floor, waiting to see his 6'6 fr<x>ame come down the hallway. Then I hear "What the H*ll?! Who's dog is that?" "Mommy said she wanted a dog and I got it for her" I responded. "YOU got HER a dog?! Are you sh*//ing me?! You're gonna bring a *&^(*^% dog here and your mother is gone all &%*&&$%# day! Who do you think is going to have to take care of the *&%$#^%$ thing?! ME! That's who! ME!" "But, Daddy.....she's a really nice dog.....really she is....and the lady said if you don't like her I can take her back!.....I swear!" All the while I am thinking to myself, 'Mom! Where are you?"
My father and I went back and forth for a few minutes, his words much more colorful than mine of course, until he finally just stomped back down the hall and he slammed the door. Within a couple of minutes my mother came home, walked in the door, took one look at that dog and fell in love. She was a gorgeous dog and she sat there, looked at my mom with those big brown eyes and wagged her tail. That's all it took for my mom. Dawn had charmed her immediately. But for me, I couldnl't wait to get out of there. I figured my mother could deal with Daddy on her own now, I paid my dues. So I happily went home.
It was normal for me to call my dad every day. My mom was gone for long hours and he was home there alone but after I dropped Dawn off, I purposely gave them some bonding time. I gave them a few days and on the forth day, I broke down and gave Daddy a call. I asked him how he felt and what he was up too, the usual questions. After a few minutes I asked him where Dawn was. "I don't know. She was just here a second ago. Dawn! Dawn!", then his voice changed a little. My big, tall, masculine father's voice became a little squeaky (just a touch) and a little juvenile and I hear him say "C'mere Girl...C'mere....Where's Daddy's Baby Girl, huh?....Where is she?..There she is!....Atta Girl. Come see Daddy" On the other end of the phone, I was smiling from ear to ear. The "%&**+*$^ dog" is now "Daddy's Baby Girl". My dad was in love too.
Dawn was a part of our family for 11 years. She was a wonderful dog. She was that dog that everyone always dreamed of having when they were growing up. A dog that ran with you and played with you in the yard, who would lay their head on your lap when you were sad, who would be happy to see you every day when you came home, and a dog that wanted nothing more but to please you and make you happy. Dawn became everyone's "Baby Girl". People who weren't even dog lovers became 'Dawn Lovers" because she really had a way about her. Everyone who came in contact with her fell in love with her. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her and even though she's been gone since 2001, I still have a picture of her on my desk that I look at every day and she looks back at me with those big, chocolate brown eyes.
Once we had her for a while and when we realized just how special she was, I thought about the woman with the little boy that gave Dawn to us. Dawn brought so much to our family, I don't know how they could've given her away. How they gave her up, I'll never know. I wouldn't have given her up for anything.
After a couple of weeks, I spotted a very small ad that said "Female Mixed Breed, Housebroken, Free To Good Home". I phoned my mom and told her that I was going to call and inquire about the dog. She said she trusted my judgement so if I went to see the dog and liked it, I could pick it up and bring it out to her. Then she added "I didn't tell your dad we were getting a dog". What?! Oh No! She never told him! "OK, but are you going to be home when I get there with a dog? You're not going to make me face him by myself are you? You know he's gonna pitch a fit!" She said that it would be fine and she had no plans to leave. Alrightie then.
I called the number and spoke with the owner. She explained that her husband got another job that provided company housing with a strict no pets allowed policy She went on and on about how wonderful this dog was and how well she was trained and how sweet she was. She described her as long haired and about 50 lbs., so she was a little bit bigger than your average lap dog, but everything else sounded great. I had to ask the woman if the dog was good with children and she said "Oh! We have a 2 year old little boy and she's wonderful with him......but, the dog doesn't like B-L-A-C-K people." "Ummmmmmm, excuse me?!" She went on to explain that about a year prior a couple of black boys tried to break into their house and ever since then, whenever the dog would see a couple young, dark-skinned black men, she would growl and bare teeth. Right there I was put in a very peculiar position. Being a person of color, I was a little offended. But, she said she had a 2 year old and she spelled the word out which, if she was a bad person or a racist, she would've said something a lot worse, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Also, I felt it was necessary to let her in on the fact that I was a person of color because I got the sneaking suspicion she did not know that and I wanted to come and meet the dog. I'm sure she will be quite embarassed. I had a little bit of a problem on my hands. I did the only thing I knew to do. I said "Well, I am interested in the dog but I am afraid to come over and meet her." When she asked me why, I simply said "Because I am a B-L-A-C-K person". "Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" and we both laughed.
She gave me directions to her house and it was only about ten minutes from my place so it took no time at all. I parked the car, looked up and saw a woman in her early 30's, a cute little 2 year old boy and a big, fluffy, beautiful dog on the porch. The dog's name was Dawn. Her fur was white and tan and extremely soft to the touch and her eyes were a beautiful shade of chocolate brown. I put my hand out to let her sniff me and I felt perfectly comfortable doing so. I reached up and patted her and she leaned into my hand just a touch, almost like she was enjoying me touching her. Like she appreciated meeting me. She seemed so well behaved sitting there without a leash, not wanting to run away, just sitting next to her humans, being a good girl. I really liked this dog. I told the woman that my mother wanted a dog but that I had just found out that this is going to be a total surprise to my father. The company her husband was going to work for wasn't moving them for a month yet so she said we could have Dawn for a couple of weeks and if my father was really against it, that I could bring her back and that she would re-run the ad.
The woman gave me some instructions, told me the kind of food she liked, told me the tricks she could do and even demonstrated a few. She gave me a few of her toys that she liked and her feeding bowls. But then it was time to say good-bye. The woman gave her a big hug and started to cry. Her son saw his mother and then he followed right along with her and his tears started to flow. Although I was excited about the dog and anxious to take her, I felt like I was breaking this little boy's heart and found myself getting a little choked up too. His mother picked him up and cuddled him and told me that it was alright to go. She assured me her son would be fine and that it was near his bedtime. So I put Dawn in my car and I was soon to introduced her to my Mom and Dad. Or so I thought...
I pull up in my parent's driveway and there was something missing. My mother's car! She remembered she had to run an errand and I had to face my father alone. I couldn't believe she did that to me! I looked at the dog and said "Oh well. Let's go meet Daddy"
My father had a very "colorful" way of talking when he was angry. I knew it was coming. I knew I was going to get an earful. We came into the house and my dad was in the back watching TV. "Hey Daddy. Where's Mommy?" I said and within a second or two I could hear him turn off the television and get out of his recliner. I stood there with the dog sitting next to me in the middle of the living room floor, waiting to see his 6'6 fr<x>ame come down the hallway. Then I hear "What the H*ll?! Who's dog is that?" "Mommy said she wanted a dog and I got it for her" I responded. "YOU got HER a dog?! Are you sh*//ing me?! You're gonna bring a *&^(*^% dog here and your mother is gone all &%*&&$%# day! Who do you think is going to have to take care of the *&%$#^%$ thing?! ME! That's who! ME!" "But, Daddy.....she's a really nice dog.....really she is....and the lady said if you don't like her I can take her back!.....I swear!" All the while I am thinking to myself, 'Mom! Where are you?"
My father and I went back and forth for a few minutes, his words much more colorful than mine of course, until he finally just stomped back down the hall and he slammed the door. Within a couple of minutes my mother came home, walked in the door, took one look at that dog and fell in love. She was a gorgeous dog and she sat there, looked at my mom with those big brown eyes and wagged her tail. That's all it took for my mom. Dawn had charmed her immediately. But for me, I couldnl't wait to get out of there. I figured my mother could deal with Daddy on her own now, I paid my dues. So I happily went home.
It was normal for me to call my dad every day. My mom was gone for long hours and he was home there alone but after I dropped Dawn off, I purposely gave them some bonding time. I gave them a few days and on the forth day, I broke down and gave Daddy a call. I asked him how he felt and what he was up too, the usual questions. After a few minutes I asked him where Dawn was. "I don't know. She was just here a second ago. Dawn! Dawn!", then his voice changed a little. My big, tall, masculine father's voice became a little squeaky (just a touch) and a little juvenile and I hear him say "C'mere Girl...C'mere....Where's Daddy's Baby Girl, huh?....Where is she?..There she is!....Atta Girl. Come see Daddy" On the other end of the phone, I was smiling from ear to ear. The "%&**+*$^ dog" is now "Daddy's Baby Girl". My dad was in love too.
Dawn was a part of our family for 11 years. She was a wonderful dog. She was that dog that everyone always dreamed of having when they were growing up. A dog that ran with you and played with you in the yard, who would lay their head on your lap when you were sad, who would be happy to see you every day when you came home, and a dog that wanted nothing more but to please you and make you happy. Dawn became everyone's "Baby Girl". People who weren't even dog lovers became 'Dawn Lovers" because she really had a way about her. Everyone who came in contact with her fell in love with her. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her and even though she's been gone since 2001, I still have a picture of her on my desk that I look at every day and she looks back at me with those big, chocolate brown eyes.
Once we had her for a while and when we realized just how special she was, I thought about the woman with the little boy that gave Dawn to us. Dawn brought so much to our family, I don't know how they could've given her away. How they gave her up, I'll never know. I wouldn't have given her up for anything.
56-60, F
