Everything in my life goes wrong. Everything. But, when I'm with my friends, I feel happy. They don't care if I mess up, they'll support me either way. I try to keep a happy face for them, but most of the time, when they're not by me, my face falls...
They don't listen, so I roll my eyes and look back at the kitchen entrance. The girls walk back and they're in some sort of a circle to hide something from me. I stand and walk to them, trying to look in.
"So, for the past few months, you've been saying you wanted a dog or puppy to help with your mental health," Claire says, in the middle.
"What breed did you want," she asks.
"I said I would like a huskie or a golden retriever, why," I ask.
"Well, we got you both," she says.
"But I don't want-"
The girls step aside to show Claire. Holding a puppy. I gasp and put my hands out, Claire passing the puppy to me. It yawns and looks at me, nuzzling its little wet nose in the crook of my elbow.
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"You're so adorable," I coo, petting it gently.
"What gender," I ask.
"Girl. I know you wanted a girl," she says.
"It's also a rescue pup from a litter that was in a barn. The mom got a home already, but some pups are still in the shelter," she adds.
"I'll name you Sakari because you're so sweet," I say, the guys stopping and standing.
"What are you naming," Corey asks.
"These amazing girls got me a puppy," I say, turning to them with the puppy sleeping in my arms. They all rush to me and huddle around me, taking turns petting the puppy. Sakari wakes up and yips, earning a scratch behind the ears from me.
"I'm a cat person, but my god it's so adorable," Mick says, making me smile.
"I didn't know you were a cat person. Live and learn," I say.
I set Sakari on the floor and she walks over to Corey, who's trying to act tough. She sits in front of his feet and looks up at him, making him look down at her. She puts a paw on his foot and he cracks, picking her up and petting her.
"Well that didn't last long," Paul says, smiling.
"You're so adorable," Corey coos, basically stealing my puppy.
"Sakari," I say. Her head turns to me and I put my arms out, making her wiggle and start doing that cool Husky thing of trying to talk. I only heard one or two words, but they made my heart melt.
"Mom, mama," Sakari barely says, wiggling out of Corey's arms and into mine. Her tail's whipping back and forth with so much joy her tail could mow down trees.
"I know this sounds weird but did you say mom," I ask.
"She did. I heard it," Sid says.
"Is that why you wanted a husky," Shawn asks.
"Yeah. I love how they can form some words and talk to their owners and other dogs," I say, Sakari looking at me.
"What other words can you say," I ask her.
"Oh please, she can't speak," Jim says.
"Hello," Sakari says clearly. Jim's face was priceless, he had a smug look on his face, but it fell into knowing of wrongness.
"Good girl," I say.
"Yay," she yips, making me smile.
"And I know what you're thinking," Claire starts.
"We got you mostly everything that you would have to buy later," she says, pushing a box of puppy things to me.
"I don't know how to thank all of you," I say.
"You don't. All you have to do is love Sakari," Claire says.
"I already do. I don't think I'll ever stop loving Sakari," I say. She hears her name and looks up to me, her tail wagging as I pet her.
"One question," Joey starts.
"Are you staying here with Sakari or coming with to finish the tour," he asks.
"I'm staying here," I say.
"We're coming back November 1st, so you have the rest of the time to do whatever you do here," Corey says.
"See you then," I say.
They, along with the girls, leave to finish their Christmases at their houses. I set Sakari down and walk to the box, sitting on my knees in front of it. I open it and there's so many things in it for Sakari, including a studded and spiked puppy collar and leather leash.
"Sakari," I say, her running over to me and waiting. I get the collar out and put it on her, fitting it not too tight, but not too loose.
"Good girl," I say, deciding to train her in hand signals over the course of this next year.
"I'm going to set up your bed, here's your toy," I say, setting a rope with knots at the ends in front of her. She looks at it, smells it and pounces, biting and chewing on the middle.
"Glad that's not one of my shoes," I mumble, digging to the bottom of the box to get her bed.
It's a cute round one with a black outside and a grey inside, making it perfect to see Sakari when she's in her bed. I stand and walk over to the stairs, walking up to my room. My family used to have a collie, and it would always sleep in my youngest sister's room, but it would sleep in mine when I went to Iowa for the summer.
"Right here," I say to myself, setting the bed at the end of mine. I hope I remember to close my closet door when she comes up here.
