Chapter One: The Animal Shelter
“Can we get a dog, Dad?”
We were at home having yet another discussion about us getting a dog. I’ve wanted one ever since I can remember. Why we don’t just get a dog, I’m not sure.
“Can we have a cat?” Cj, my little brother, said.
“Sure, in about 20 years when you move out! Remember, I’m still allergic.” I said. “Plus, dogs are way better. The only good cat-“
“-is the cat in the mouth of a German Shepard.” Dad finished. He smiled. “All right, Erin. You win. We’ll go tomorrow. “
“YES!!!” I shouted. I hugged my dad so tight that I thought he was going to burst. I was smiling so hard that I was worried my teeth were going to fall out. I thought This is the best day of my life.
***
The next day, we were at the animal shelter with our grandmother, Grammy. We came to that particular shelter because our family got all of our dogs there: Foxy and Coco, Grammy’s dogs and Hudson and Roxy, Aunt Christy and Uncle Kurt’s dogs.
“Come on slowpokes!” I exclaimed.
“Hold your horses, Erin!” said Grammy.
“Sorry Grammy! I’m just really, really, REALLY excited!” I panted. “I want to meet the dogs as soon as I can so I can give one of them a home.”
“I never promised that we’ll get a dog. I said we’re here to look.”Dad said sternly. “But, if we do get a dog, you have to help take care of him or her. Got it?”
“Sir yes sir!” I said, and then burst into a fit of giggling. Dad smiled. So did Grammy. I wonder what kind of dog we’re going to get. I thought. It’ll probably a Pitt Bull.
“Come on Erin. Let’s look at the dogs.” Dad said.
“I'm coming!” I said. I can’t wait! I was right. There was mostly Pitt Bulls, with some other kinds of dogs and a couple of mixes too.
“How’s this one?” Dad said pointing to one of the dogs.
“Eh…it’s okay. "Hey, what about this poodle?” I said, looking at the poodle.
“Eh.” Dad said with a shrug. “How about this one?”
I shrugged, and when I opened my mouth to answer, Cj said “Can we look at the cats now?”
“Uhhhggg!" Do we have to?” I groaned.
“Yes, we do.” Dad replied.
“Humph.” I grumbled.
“No humph’s Erin.”
“Yes, Dad.”
After about 30 seconds in the cat area, I sneezed. “Achoo!”
“Bless you!” Grammy said with a chuckle.
“Woo! Jeez, Erin! You spooked the cats!” Dad exclaimed.
“Good.” I sniffed.” I don’t like them anyway.”
“Let’s look at the dogs now!” I said impatiently. I wanted to get a dog today really bad.
“Hold on, Erin.”
“Yes, Dad.”
