Lifelong Dream

     Amy had wanted a dog since the moment she had set eyes on her neighbor’s puppy as a preschooler. Since then, she had been obsessed with them. She dreamt about dogs at night, was distracted in class because of dog daydreams, and kept every picture of dogs she saw in her dad’s newspapers. But, she did not own a dog. She could imagine what it would be like: small, fluffy, full of energy. However, according to her mom, she wasn’t responsible enough.  So all that Amy could do was dream and talk to her stuffed Husky, George.

      “I wish I had a real dog,” Amy confided in George every morning. “You’re great to play with, but I want a dog to throw a ball to, cuddle with when I come home from school, take walks with, and go on adventures with!” She repeated these wishes to George every day, always hoping that they might come true. One day, Amy’s mother happened to be walking past Amy’s bedroom as her daughter confided in the stuffed husky.  She decided to give her daughter the chance to earn her wish. Plus, Amy’s mom wouldn’t be against having a dog herself. It would be nice to have a dog in the family. She knocked on the open door and stepped into Amy’s room.

     “Amy,” her mom said. Amy looked up from the stuffed husky. “I have an idea. If you can earn a dog—show you are responsible enough—then I will allow you to get one for your next birthday.” Amy’s eyes opened wide. She stood up, knocking poor George onto his side, and ran to give her mom a hug.

     “Really?” she asked in disbelief.

     “Yes, but you must earn it. Dogs take work, and you need to show that you’re able to take care of one. I need extra attention in your current chores and in a couple of new ones.”

     “Got it. I’ll do anything you want!” Amy replied, resolving to be the most responsible, hardworking child her mom had ever seen. Amy’s mom left the room, smiling. As soon as her mom was gone, Amy rushed to her unmade bed and pulled the covers tight. Afterwards, she examined the sheets for any small imperfections and fixed them.  She laid George on the made bed as a final touch, and gazed at her work proudly for a second.  Then, she ran down the hall to the kitchen where her dad was making dinner.

     “Can I help?” Amy asked.

     “Of course you can!” her dad answered, surprised at his daughter’s sudden desire to cook.

     “If I’m extra helpful, Mom says I can get a dog!” Amy told her dad happily as she washed her hands.

     “Well then, better get to work!” her dad replied with a smile.  For the next hour, she was busy washing carrots, over-salting her dad’s soup, spilling broth, and getting in her dad’s way.  However, Amy did learn how to make a basic soup, so she and her dad counted it as a success.  Over the next few days, Amy’s time was filled with extra chores, helping Dad with dinner, and figuring out ways to earn money for things her dog might need. Any extra time she had was spent with George, who she talked to about her excitement, her plans of what she would do with her dog, possible names for her dog, and anything else dog related that popped into her head. At night, she would pray for the dog to come quickly, and then fall asleep and dream about dogs.  

     One day, a couple months after the excitement had begun, Amy woke up, made her bed, had a breakfast of cereal, and started systematically completing all her chores. Before she could finish though, her Mom came into the living room where Amy was tidying.

     “Yes?” Amy asked, suddenly worried on account of her Mom’s expression.

     “I have some bad news. I’m really sorry Amy, but your father just lost his job. For a while, we won’t have the money to buy unnecessary things. I know you were working really hard, but we probably won’t be able to afford to take care of a dog. We just don’t have the money to pay for a vet, food, medicine, and all that.” Amy looked at her mom, her face dropping. She opened her mouth to complain. However, her dad came in, looking extremely stressed out and sorrowful.

Amy closed her mouth. Her dad and mom gave her a joint hug, and Amy forgave them for not being able to get her a dog right away.

     In the next couple of months though, things got worse. Both Amy’s parents were unable to find good work, and they moved out of their nice home. The family relocated to a cramped apartment, which didn’t allow pets.  This apartment, with the loud upstairs neighbors, was the apartment that Amy lived in for the next eight years. With guidance from her dad, she became the main household cook so that her dad could spend all his time working to pay the bills. She also became the primary household cleaner instead of her mom, who was also working full time. She’d shoved the dream of a dog to the back of her mind, and it became something she would dream about only at night. Now, she had more pressing things to worry about, more real-life problems that needed solving. However, her desire for a dog didn’t disappear.  It just retreated to a deeper corner of her mind, only sometimes coming to the surface when she saw a particularly cute puppy going for a walk with its owner.

     Amy’s life now centered around the necessities. She focused on school instead of daydreaming about dogs like she used to. She learned to drive so her parents wouldn’t have to be her chauffeurs. As soon as she grew old enough, she got a job. Time passed, and Amy eventually moved out of her parents’ house. She went to college and met her future husband. Her parents still struggled, but always had stayed happy and supported her. 

Years flew by. Amy went into nursing, got married, and had two children. Her days then became full of dropping kids off at school, making dinners, working in her backyard garden, and keeping the house as tidy as possible. Her life, for the most part, was full of joy and peace. However, sometimes she felt a bit lonely when she was the only person in the house. Her kids were always at school or soccer practice, and her husband worked during the day. She sometimes wished for company but shrugged the feeling off. She grew older, but still no dog.

     One day, Amy was driving home from a shopping run as the sun was going down. She’d had a full day and was exhausted. Her car was filled with groceries, kid’s clothes that needed to be returned, and car seats. Suddenly, she saw something moving in the road. She slammed the brakes right before she ran it over. All she could see from the driver’s seat was a small, brown and white pile of fur and didn’t seem to be running away. Curious to see what it was, Amy opened her door and stepped out. It was a dog! The small creature, with no hint of fear in any of his actions, stared up at Amy and gave a small bark. He was a bit scraggly; an obvious stray. He didn’t look to be any specific breed, probably a mix of many. His coat was a dingy white with a couple large light brown splotches along his torso. His fur was short and probably coarse. You could tell he’d had many adventures but wasn’t that old. And anyways, it didn’t matter how he looked. He was perfect. He bravely stared at her and stuck his tongue out as if to greet her. Amy squatted down, until she was at eye level with him.   

     “Hello there!” she said quietly. The mutt gave another soft woof. Suddenly he trotted forward until he was within petting distance of Amy. Amy slowly reached out a fist and let the dog smell her.  He gave a little sniff and then rubbed his small scraggly head against her hand.

     “What are you doing all alone in the middle of the road? Do you want to come home with me?” she asked the dog.  He looked at her with big brown eyes and didn’t shake his head, so Amy took it as a yes.  

     At this moment, all of her childhood wishes came back, and she remembered how much she had wanted a dog all those years ago. She remembered the long-forgotten George, her husky confidant. The chores she had done as a ten year old were just the beginning of everything she had done for her dream. The job she had worked in high school, all the hours at the hospital, it all had led up to this moment right here. She had finally earned her dog.

     “Okay,” Amy said, standing up. She looked at her new friend and thought about all the hoping and praying and work her younger self had done. “Let’s go home.” she said. “My family will be so excited to meet you!” The dog trotted to the passenger seat door, waiting to be let in. Amy walked over and let him in before driving back home. Her single wish had come true. Amy was now completely happy.