Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: EXPECTATION (01/28/21)
-
TITLE: Asia | Previous Challenge Entry
By Corinne Smelker
02/03/21 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
I chivvied Asia outside and praised her lavishly as she finished her business on the grass. So far I was following all the advice given by veteran dog owners, I even followed Cesar Millan, he of ‘Dog Whisperer’ fame on social media. To say I was a novice, and an anxious dog owner was vastly understating the facts. Truth was I had not been exposed to pets of any kind growing up. My father’s job, plus my late mother’s terrible allergies precluded anything other than a fish, and I did not consider fish to be my next best friend. I made do with petting friends’ dogs and wishing for the day I could own my own shaggy canine.
No one had prepared me for the sleepless nights after I brought 10-week old Asia home and crated her. Oh my word – I thought she was dying she howled so loudly and cried so mournfully. Social media to the rescue, specifically the Golden Retriever page/wall and its denizens. After posting a video of Asia crying so loudly I wanted to join her, several people commented this was normal. Normal? What the heck had I got myself into? We made it through the first night, barely; and the second was just slightly better.
I flashed back to my teen years and the dog that made me fall in love with the breed in the first place. My bestie (still my bestie actually) owned Flash, a gorgeous retriever who epitomized happy-go-lucky, and was obedience personified. How come Asia was nothing like Flash? So far we had had 20 accidents, not that I was counting, three totally sleepless nights, a drag-the-dog rather than the leisurely wander around the neighborhood I had pictured, oh, and she chewed my best pair of sneakers! She had toys galore but found my Brooks running shoes! They were ruined.
What had I done? I had a major case of buyer’s remorse. I had researched the breed thoroughly so I knew, theoretically, what I was getting into; but like everything in life, the practical is much harder than the theory. Perhaps I had made a huge mistake? Perhaps I was not meant to be a dog owner? Didn’t I read somewhere that fish can be affectionate and recognized their people? Or was that gerbils?
Just give it one more week. Then reassess. The breeder has a buy-back policy – that is my get-out-of-pet-ownership-free card. I looked down at Asia who decided right at that moment to lie across my feet and present her soft, fat belly to be gently rubbed. Her eyes closed and her tongue lolled out of her mouth as I gave her the attention she craved.
Later that evening Asia ate dinner and then waddled her way over to the door and whined. Progress! Now she was conked out next to me on the couch after yet another unsuccessful foray into the world of leashes and walking. As I stroked her silky ears I called Rachel, my bestie. Before she could say more than ‘hi’ I inundated her with my life for the previous few days, finishing with, “I must be crazy! This is totally not what I expected.”
Rachel’s laugh filled my ear before she said, “Yep. Sounds like Flash.”
“Flash? YOUR Flash? No way. He is perfect!”
She laughed again, “Yah. After he left the stupid behind. That took a while, but don’t worry. Goldens are clever dogs. She will be house-broken and crate-trained before you know it. You met Flash just after he was trained; but believe me, my dad almost sent him back too!” I was stunned. Flash was just a gem of a dog; he never put a paw wrong!
Rachel continued, “Give Asia time, she is just little. One day, not long from now, you will look up and realise you have the perfect dog; Not as perfect as Flash of course…”
“Of course,” I smiled.
“But the perfect dog for you,” she finished.
“I’m holding you to that,” I warned her.
One afternoon, four months later, as Asia and I strolled together my thoughts returned to the first disastrous walk we’d taken. I chuckled. Rachel was right. Asia had become the dog of my dreams, everything I ever wanted in a canine companion.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
