Once Upon a Time: True Stories of an Aspiring Writer

Childhood Writings: A Bark of Excitement and Cooper's Fur

I present to you the personal essay I wrote for sixth grade, with the unhealthy love for my friend's dog and tried a new writing style  (There was another project where I actually incorporated one of the Office Assistants, but I'm not sure I have that anymore). I have as many questions as you do. Like, how was Christine not totally creeped out by me?  How many points did I lose for grammar mistakes? If I did get anything from this, though, it's that this present tense will become a fixture in my longer writing projects many years later. The other piece is the poem I wrote two years later.

RIP to Meggie and Cooper...I hope you guys are loving each other's company in doggie heaven. 

The thought that Christine's family would get a pet never crossed my mind during the many years that we are friends. That is, until we started to write persuasive essays in the fifth grade. While I was busy writing mine about getting a computer, Christine was writing hers about getting a dog. A dog? No way! I think. I am excited for Christine while at the same time, I can't imagine her family getting a pet. This is my true story...

A year later when we are finally in the sixth grade, Christine tells me about the new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy that her family will soon adopt. WHAT? I think. Then I remember the essays that we wrote last year. "What's its name?" I ask excitedly. Oh wow, I can hardly believe that this is happening!

"Katie," Christine replies. I love that name! I think it will suit a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy perfectly. I can only daydream of how fun the next play date will be, when I do get to see this new puppy.

But a few weeks later, Christine and her family decide to name the new puppy Meggie. The day comes closer and closer: the day when the puppy is adopted! Sometimes Christine goes to see Meggie at the animal shelter. Every day she does she thinks it is cute. I begin to get excited, too. The day I will finally get to see Meggie will be so great! Only in a few weeks will Meggie have a new home.

I wake up on a cool Saturday morning in October. The first thing I see is the bobblehead dog that I painted a few months earlier. It reminds me of Meggie. She is probably at her new home this very second.

A few days later, I am at school with Christine once again and she tells me all about her new dog. She has never had a pet, or siblings, or anything like that, so it is very exciting. I know that I am very excited to see Meggie. Besides, I still think that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are cuter than cute!

However, one thing gets in our way: it is hard to find a date that I can go over to Christine's. With every week, I wonder, will we ever find a good date? I can barely even wait to see Meggie!

But although it seems like forever until I get to meet Meggie in person, Christmas comes, and Christine comes over to my house. Even though Meggie is not here we still have fun opening Christmas gifts and goofing around. And the next day is even better. We get a Christmas card from Meggie and her family, and in the picture is Meggie! She is SO cute! Her little white paws are showing! She is looking at you from the picture! And it is so hard to resist when she looks up at you with her sweet, innocent face! Now I want to meet her more than ever.

A few weeks later, I actually do get to see Meggie. I ring the doorbell and hear what can only be an excited puppy yapping up a storm without the thunder and lightning. Christine opens the door, but I don't see Meggie anywhere. "Where can she be?" I wonder aloud. But then we go into the kitchen, and right in front of me is Meggie in a cage area, trying to get out. Her tail is wagging happily and she is making those excited puppy yips that puppies always make. When I enter the ares in which she is being kept, she is sniffing me over and sometimes jumping on me. It is very cute.

During the day, Meggie is always trying to follow us around once she is let out of her cage. She is always trying to lick and sniff me. Although Meggie isn't allowed upstairs yet, she is following us everywhere downstairs. When we go off into the basement, Christine looks up and Meggie is standing at the top of the stairs with adorable longing eyes.

The day seemed to go by quickly because it was so amusing. When it is time to leave, I know that I will miss Meggie very much. But I will see her again soon, I hope. Then I sadly look at Meggie one more time before going out the door. But back at school, Christine tells me about Meggie and the hilarious thing she did last night. I know now that when I hear about what Molly did I will not miss her as much.

The day I became interested in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is a day that I will always remember. Meggie has even inspired me to try a dog lovers' mini course next year where we will make fun things for dogs, play games to do with dogs, and make dog treats, which I am excited for. And I owe it all to Meggie, the adorable, sweet little Cavalier Spaniel puppy!

***********

Cooper's Fur

Your fur reminds me of a 

burnt marshmallow,

all white

with black spots.

I bury my face

into your soft, white

curls that overflow

onto the floor

and I ignore

the smell you have

of a dog that

has been rolling

in the rain

and kiss the

soft white stripe

on the top

of your head.

You dash into the kitchen

to meet Ginger,

her small head is lost in the fur

dangling off your tail.

Your ear is covered in pet hair

that has been hanging around the house,

adding to your collection of fur.

You then run off to play

with a toy

to leave me behind

thinking about

how much

I love 

your fur.