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TITLE: Saying GoodBye
By Marjorie McCoy
10/06/08
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Cuddles was the first pet I remember having. We got her from the Humane Society when I was three years old. She was a six month old Labrador Collie mix but she looked like one of those shaggy sheepdogs....Bearded collies I think they are called.
The two of us grew up together. She was there through out my day. When I first started school Cuddles was confused. My two brothers would go off to school but up until then I always stayed home with her.
When she saw me putting on my shoes she knew that meant I was going somewhere. Cuddles decided to put a stop to this nonsense. She grabbed my show out of my hand and ran. Mom and I chased her all over. At some point the dog had hid the shoe. By the time we found that shoe we discovered the other shoe now missing. My mom had me put the one shoe on and she searched for the other.
The shoe was found and I was off to school. When I got home Cuddles was waiting and she gave me a lot of doggie kisses. Needless to say we both adjusted to school life. Before school I would feed, water and walk Cuddles. After school and when homework was done I would take her out to play. She was there to comfort me when I was sad and to keep me company when I was lonely.
In my child's brain things would be like this forever. But of course that isn't the way it is. Cuddles got sick. I was a child and really didn't know how to raise a dog. My parents were the ones who took care of medical needs for Cuddles. I was too young to know any better.
Instead of taking Cuddles to the vet my dad vanished her to the backyard. He built her a house and tied her to a wire. The dog was having trouble controling her bladder. There she stayed. I did the best I could to care for her with what knowledge I had.
However the end for her did come. I went to feed her one morning and found her lifeless body. My dad buried her. I was filled with guilt. She had always been there for me and in her final hour I wasn't there for her. I wasn't able to tell her goodbye. I cried myself to sleep for weeks.
Then one day I thought I was awaken by barking. I drowsly got up and looked out the window. To my surprise Cuddles stood there wagging her tail. It was as if she was beckoning me. In my nightgown and bare feet I ran outside to Cuddles. The dog ran toward the back yard and I followed.
When I stopped and looked around I was no longer in my backyard. Instead I stood in a field. There was green grass for as far as the eye can see. A huge shade tree stood in the middle and there was a lake. I looked at Cuddles running and jumping. Something she couldn't do in her last days. The message was clear. Cuddles was happy. She came up to me and gave me a kiss. I said goodbye my dear friend. I knew she would not be coming back.
After goodbyes were said I stood up and started walking back the way I came. I turned for one last look. The field was gone and I was back in my yard. Was this a dream or real? I really don't know but I had long black and white dog hairs on my night gown and my bare feet were dirty. "Goodbye my dear friend."
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