I’d
given up hope on getting a dog. After
spending many childhood years of begging and pleading with my parents, writing
them desperate letters, even crying over the homeless dogs I’d seen in shelters
and convinced myself I was in love with, I gave up on ever having a dog. Then came Christmas, 5th grade.
I’d
already had a fantastic Christmas. I’d gotten my first computer, (I was
ecstatic to receive my parents’ old clunker PC) and a ridiculous wave of toys
and clothes. Just after we had opened up
all the presents under the tree, my dad brought out one more present, the best
one yet. It was a puppy! She was overwhelmingly adorable, playful, and
tiny. Those first moments were full of
excitement and love, but I had no idea how wonderful of a dog she would grow to
be.
I soon named her Zoe, a name that she grew to
embody with her quirky and spunky personality.
I cherish so many of my memories with Zoe. I’ll never forget the endless spring days
taking her on long walks, giving her baths and trying to keep most of the water
in the bathtub, that random time we slept in a tent in my backyard, taking her
boating on the lake, terrorizing my cat; for all of my adolescence, Zoe was my
best friend, my dog.
Over
the years, life started to get busy for me.
As I started high school and became involved in AP classes, high school
sports, organizations, and friends.
Since I’m an only child, Zoe started to be left alone quite a bit. I’m sure she started to get lonely, but at
least I was still there to give her the love she deserved as such a great dog. I’m probably over-analyzing this, because
she’s just my dog, but I still felt bad.
The
hardest thing for her was when I went off to college. She was now alone most all the time and,
though my parents cared for her and gave her lots of attention while they were
around, she was still alone most of the time.
Considering how spoiled she had been before, never leaving my side, it
was pretty sad for me to leave her alone at home. I couldn’t wait to get my own place and bring
her to my new home.
But
she deserved better. She was still young
and deserved a happy family with kids who would love her all the time and give
her the attention she wanted. So a few
months into last semester, my dad found Zoe a new home. I’ll never see her again, never be able to
take her on a walk or give her a soggy, smelly bath. I’ll never be able to live on my own with
her, as had been my plan. It was a
really hard thing to do, to give up, let her go. I think she is much better off with her new
family with three young kids. I’m sure
she is happy and hyper and feels the love she deserves everyday.
Sydney,
ReplyDeleteHaving to leave two dogs at home when coming to college, I know exactly how you feel. This past Christmas, I convinced my parents to get me a chocolate lab puppy. Her name is Mele, and for now, she is in my sister's hands. But, I think this would be a very interesting memory to develop further into a story, and here are a few ways to do that: 1. Describe more fully your desire for a puppy. Really dig into how eager and desperate you were for a dog. I think it really helps symbolize the kids that we all were at that age. 2. Go more fully into detail about some of the best experiences and memories that you had with Zoe. 3. Explain the dichotomy between how you felt when you had to leave Zoe, as well as how it seems like she felt with you leaving. Having the maturity and level-headedness to find Zoe a new home truly shows the coming-of-age that both you and her experienced in your relationship together, which is why I think that this sketch would be really interesting to extended into a more full experience.
Sydney,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading your articles. I can totally feel your happiness, sadness, disappointment in your words. Here are some suggestions that you can developed your article longer. 1. Maybe you can describe more about how excitement you are the first time when you see your dog, your reaction, Zoe's reaction. 2. How you become best friends, like one to two very specific examples to show how your friendship being built and you love each other. 3. Fully develop you disappointment and sadness when Zoe went to another house. Your psychological change.
I believe it will be an awesome article!!!
Hi Sydney, Thanks for posting about Zoe. As an animal lover, I was touched. You could expand this piece by creating two bookend scenes--the first when you got Zoe as a Christmas puppy, and the second when you last saw her. Describe the scenes in specific detail. Where were you? What did you see? What actions took place? Good material here. dw
ReplyDeleteHey Sydney, I really enjoyed reading your post about Zoe. I remember when I got my dog Kinako, a poodle, in second grade. I'm an only child as well, so Kinako and I are extremely close. Like you, I received Kinako as a Christmas present. It's funny how no number of Christmas presents could ever match that of something alive. Something that chooses to love you and care for you. Certainly, Kinako and I were closer before college, but I noticed as you did, that high school brought on a period of decline in the amount of attention I gave to my dog. I certainly feel bad about it, and miss my dog so much, which is why I try to make up for it in whatever way I can when I do get to go back to California. That must have been tough to give your dog up, but at least you'll always have the memories. Thanks for sharing!
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