Beauty, My First Dog

by Dee

I remember, many, many years ago when I was 3, I had a great Christmas. Then my dad made it better. He walked in and presented me with a tiny ball of fluff. The cutest little bundle I'd ever seen. I couldn't think of a good name, cos I was only 3, so my parents named her Beauty, after their old dog.

She was my best friend for 20 years. When I was growing up she was my constant companion. We'd search for lost treasure, fight bad guys and have all kinds of adventures.

Then, as a teenager, Beauty was my confidant. We'd take walks in the woods, sit under a tree and talk. Well, I would. She'd listen. I'd tell her my secrets, dreams and, of course at that age, talk about boys.

I never had to worry about her telling anyone else my thoughts. She was a good listener. Time passed and my little girl was getting older. No more running and jumping or long excursions.

Beauty needed extra care and I gave it to her. She still listened patiently to my secrets as I sat beside her and petted her, but her time was growning short. I realized she wasn't going to be with me forever.

That time came too soon and, at 20 years old, she developed renal failure and had to be put to sleep. I was devastated. I was engaged to my husband at the time, and no amount of consolation from him or my parents helped.

Beauty was buried in the woods on my parents property where we would go to talk and have adventures.

I'm much older now and still remember her and all my other four legged friends that have gone on before me. And I know that they will be waiting for me to come home with wagging tails and boy, do we have a lot to catch up on!