by captain dude » Fri Mar 19, 2021 4:21 pm
Username: captain dude
Name: Bishop
Gender: Female
Prompt:
The long, hot day just seemed to drag on forever. She had already spent a few hours on technology, took a nap, and did every last one of her chores. There was only one thing she felt, pure unfettered boredom. The summer just seemed so endless, and in the worst possible way. None of the other Kals on her street wanted to go outside and bike or talk either. It was just too hot to do anything. Lonely and in need of a companion, Bishop hatched a plan.
Bishop pattered into her mom’s office room and announced with utter sincerity, “Mom, I want a dog.”
“A dog? Why do you want a dog?” Her mother asked her, sincerely puzzled. She had never asked for a dog before, had never even showed any interest in one.
“I just really want someone to play with. It just gets so boring and lonely around here without a friend.”
“Honey,” her mom advised. “A pet is a very big commitment, especially a dog. You’ve gotta be sure you’re ready for that. Pets depend on you for everything and you are their forever family until they pass away. You have to be sure you’re absolutely ready for one before you get them.”
“I know,” Bishop admitted. “I’ve just been really lonely lately and it seems like there’s nothing to do.”
“Well, then, why don’t we go volunteer at the animal shelter on my day off? That way you can play with the pets and learn how to take care of them. Maybe after a few visits it’ll help you think about whether you’re ready to be a pet owner or not. Who knows? Maybe we’ll find someone we want to take home.”
———
The animal shelter seemed like a dream come true to Bishop. As long as you weren’t to squeamish about helping to clean up and didn’t mind the smell too much, there was just so much to see and do! And it was great exercise for the two of them! Walking dogs, carrying big heavy bags of cat litter, and lifting huge of birdseed was like a day at the gym. Her favorite part, though, was sitting in the kennels with the older dogs and comforting them.
Seeing the families pick out a new pet to take home made her so happy. She loved imagining being the one to bring a lucky animal back with her. After a few months of volunteering, a new dog came in. This one was an older German Shepherd mix, missing a leg and with stitches stretching across one side of his body.
“What happened to him?” She asked the shelter veterinarian.
“Oh, he was been hit by a car and lost one of his legs, the poor guy. His owners couldn’t afford to give him the surgeries he needed so they surrendered him. Don’t let the three legs fool you; he’s still got plenty of energy and life left in him.”
From that moment on, this abandoned dog won the big heart of that animal-obsessed kid.
Bishop couldn’t think about anything but that dog (and couldn’t talk about anything either). The week in between their visits seemed like an eternity filled with begging, pleading, and some more begging to her mother.
“Please, mom! I promise I’ll walk him and feed him and he’ll get plenty of baths and he’ll sleep in my bed!”
“Wouldn’t he be perfect? He’s only got three legs but he’s just plain cute! I think the three legs makes him even cuter.”
“You had a dog like this as a kit, didn’t you, mom? German shepherds are just so pretty! And I hear they’re smart and friendly too!”
“He’d be a perfect family pet and I’d even buy him with my allowance money! Scout’s honor!”
It was midway through the week when her mother finally caved.
“All right! We’re going to get him today! I just put in a call to the shelter to put him on hold. We can pick him up this afternoon.”
Bishop was crying tears of joy when they went to bring him home. It seemed like a blur to sign the adoption paper and buy him a leash and tag from the kennel store. When the form asked for a name, Bishop suggested “Chance”.
“Seems fitting for a dog getting a second chance,” her mother said with a snicker.
Her mom offered to pay the adoption fee but Bishop insisted. When they brought Chance out, Bishop could hardly fend off the wagging tail slapping her and that slobbery tongue licking her face. If ever a dog was thankful, this one sure was. Hardly able to steal a glance away from her new friend, she looked over at her mom, who was beaming in pride.
“Thank you so much,” she said in delight. “I love him!”
“I know you do,” her mom said, contentedly. “Come on, you two, let’s go home!”
