Narrative

                                                           Finding My Best Friend

When you were a child, did your parents ever promise you a pet, of your choice? When they made you this promise, the first thing they said was "its your responsibilty and you have to take care of it." You of course say, "yes, I promise I will." This day came for me ten years ago, when I thought I was just getting a dog, but childhood best friend was found.

I was in the fourth grade when my father came to me on a Saturday morning saying "get dressed, were going to the Pets Alive convention." This was an event ran by the local animal shelters and the spay and nuetering clinics in Bloomington. I jumped up with over enthusiam, knowing what i was going there to do. I was getting my first dog. I came running out the house and my family was already loaded up in the car and ready to go. Though i was the last one out, I was absolutely the most excited one, by far.

After, we had left the house it wasn't but ten minutes till we got there, which felt like a mellinium to me, as a young kid, exstatic for his first dog. I was the first one to walk in and it opened up into a hug warehouse full of adult dogs, puppies; big and small, fat and skinny. The sound walking in was dephioning with all the dogs barking excessively. I ran from cage to cage, sticking my hand in and out of each and every cage, trying to find "the" dog for me.

Though we were looking for a dog that all of us agreed on, it was very hard. My mom had picked out this seven month old Golden Retriever that was almost deathly looking. He had very poor body condition on it, showing almost ever bone it had on its body. he had a great personality, bounces up and down, very willing to please, but for some reason, I never felt very connected to him. All of my family spent their time playing with this dog as i was running from cage to cage trying to find my dog.

I had been running around all day that I hadn't even noticed everyone, but my dad in my family had left, due to my sister having to referee a local soccer game. There left my dad and I to figure out which was the right dog for us as a family. We had gotten out a few more dogs including; a collie mix, and a black lab. They were nice dogs but none of them caught my eye. My dad repeatedly told me "you have to pick one, we can't be here all day."

I still hadn't connected with any until I saw a girl a little younger then myself, holding the cutest brindle puppy i had ever seen. As soon as I layed eyes on that puppy, i knew that was to be mine. Not understanding respect yet much as a fourth grader, as soon as she put the puppy down to let it run around and play with it. I snatched the puppy up into my arms and ran to my dad yelling "dad, dad!" "Look, I found our new dog!" He laughed and said "do you know how much work a puppy is?" I said "of course I know and I promise I will take care of it; feed it, water it and play with it, all the time." Typical little kid, I had no idea of how much work went into raising a puppy, but i finally convinced my dad in taking him home.

Therefore, those next few months were absolute hell. I have never been so sick and tired of an animal in my life. Never have I cleaned up so many pee spots, and poop piles in the house. Once he got all the bad habbits out of the way, he was the greatest dog I could ever ask for. He is still my best friend to this day and if I ever were to see that girl again, I would thank her over and over again.

Bear is ten years old, hes starting to slow down and become more arthritic. His bones are starting to shake and hes gaining weight. He still tries to run like a puppy, but that only lasts about two minutes and hes done for the day. I hope he sticks around for a few more years, either way he will always be my best friend.