Bolt and Penny

Day 2

When Penny awoke, she lay in her bed, the sun shining in through the clear glass window. A warmness and softness surrounded her body, with an aura of peace and serenity. Next to her, his chest rising and falling with every relaxed breath, was Bolt. His eyes lay closed, and his ears twitched slightly in doggy dreams. Turning onto her side, Penny slid closer to the White Shepherd and slowly slid her arm over his belly and up between his front legs. Pressing her body against his, Penny nuzzled her face into the tenderly soft fur around his neck.  Penny felt butterflies in her stomach as she spooned with her dog, his presence always making her happy and calm.  While she thought that some undesirable force would come and disturb their time together, nothing did. No knocking, no hollering, no food smells... just the sound of Bolt's steady breathing. Closing her eyes once more, Penny shifted against Bolt and held him close to her. 

Penny's mom walked up the stairs, using the railing to guide her through the dark. Reaching the top, she felt around for the switch and feeling it, flicked it up. Bright florescent light spilled throughout the hallway and Penny's mom reached for the door handle to her daughter's room. Opening the door, she stepped inside and smiled. Penny lay under the covers, Bolt held tightly to her as the both of them slept peacefully. Shutting the door behind her, Penny's mom moved to her bed and sat down on the end of it. Her smile grew wider, a tear sliding down her plump cheek. Whenever she saw Penny sleeping like that, it always reminded her of her husband. He was a cuddler just like her, and she had his amazing brown eyes. Leaning over, Penny's mom gently shook her daughter's shoulder. "Penny, hey Penny. Wake up, I have a surprise for you." Penny stirred and  rolled over. "Ugh... oh. Hey mom, what's up?" Penny's mom smiled, "Come with me, I have a surprise for you outside." Pushing back the covers, Penny sat on the edge of her bed and put on her house slippers. Standing up, she walked to her closet and pulled out a thick bathrobe. "Bolt, come on. Mom has a surprise for us." Bolt yawned and sat up stretching. "Okay, okay... I'm coming." Following her mother to the door, she walked down in the stairs with Bolt following close behind. Walking through the living room, Penny didn't even notice her grandma video taping her and Bolt. Before they went outside however Penny's mom blindfolded her and told her to keep it on until she took it off. Penny felt the cold of the late evening breeze nip her face and fingers as her mother guided down the walkway. Leaving Penny standing in the middle of the path, her mother excitedly said, "Okay! take it off!" Reaching up, Penny pulled up the blindfold and squealed. Sitting in the driveway with a bow on top was a car. Penny ran to her mom and embraced her in a hug. "Oh thank you mom! It's perfect!" Penny's mom hugged her back and said, "Merry Christmas dear. I just couldn't wait to show you." Penny let go of her mother and rushed up to the car. Pulling the handle, she realized it was locked and felt a tap on her shoulder. "Here honey I think you'll need these." Turning around, her mother held out the keys between her thumb and forefinger. Giving her mom a kiss on the lips, Penny took the keys and unlocked the passenger and driver doors. "Come on Bolt! Get in!" Bolt barked and jumped up into the driver's seat, crossing the center console and sitting on his haunches in the passenger seat. Climbing in, Penny shut the door and put on her seatbelt. Putting the keys in the ignition Penny started the engine and turned on the heaters. Rolling down the window, Penny said, "Mom, can I take her for a spin in the morning?" Her mom smiled, "Of course Hun, you can drive into town tomorrow with us to pick up some groceries." 

Shutting the door behind her, Penny walked to her bed where Bolt was already waiting for her. "You ready for a cuddling session?" Bolt thumped his tail, "Oh yes Penny... It was too cold outside." Sliding in behind Bolt, Penny pressed herself against him and wrapped and arm around his soft body. Making sure the covers were securely placed over the both of them, Penny nuzzled her face into Bolt's neck and let out a deep sigh of contentment.