“Star”

I sweated so much the first night I slept with her that my sheets were soaked by morning. Her snores and farts allowed me no rest. 

Still, she was the most beautiful puppy I had ever laid eyes upon. And she was mine.

Dark brown eyes opened in the morning and a pink tongue with a black spot caressed my face.

“Aww, I don’t need a bath! I protested – but my seven-year-old body probably did.

“C’mon let’s get you some food. Mom! The puppies’ hungry.”

Mom, her hair in curlers wearing an old blue robe given to her by the Old Man two birthdays ago – poured some puppy chow into a plastic bowl.

The black-furred dog hurled herself at “breakfast.” Sounds of puppy teeth chomping happily away filled our small kitchen.

My Old Man knocking back his sixth cup of black coffee said- “Charlie, do you like your Labrador puppy?”

My lips trembled. My mouth was unable to form any comprehensible words. I burst into tears.

“She’s…beautiful…beautiful. She’s mine… isn’t she? Isn’t she? I love her. Please, say she’s mine?!”

A big hairy mitt tousled my short-cropped hair. The Old Man grinned. “She is – as long as you take care of her.”

I hugged him. My small arms wrapped around his waist, my face buried in his soft belly. My snot and tears stained his shirt.

“Thank you, Dad! 

“What about me? I helped you pick her out!” cried, my Mom.

“Thank you, Mom!”

Lighting his briar pipe with a flourish my Old Man said through his clenched teeth – “What are you going to call her, Son?”

I’m gonna call her…”Star.” Cause she has a white spot on her chest…just like a Star.”