Goodbye Lovely Boy, Sweet Dreams

It's Friday evening, March 17. 

American St. Patrick's Day.

Inside of a 'Happiness is Pets' puppy store is a family of three playing with a small black and white puppy. The mother with bright red hair is on the phone speaking with her husband, having a conversation they've had multiple times. She sighs and hands the phone over to her daughter and son who plead with their father, begging and promising the world over just so they could take home this small black puppy.Multiple minutes of begging and promises pass, promises that the father knows will not be kept, but he relents and finally agrees.

And the small puppy is quickly brought back to his new home.

That puppies name is now:

Oreo.

He lives a happy life with this family of four. The kids always play with him, sneeze with him whenever he sneezes. So Oreo learns that when he's happy he should sneeze, because it brings a smile on the kids face as they also sneeze back. There's a big yard to play in and sometimes they take him for walks, but Oreo doesn't mind too much. He's a sitting dog, jumping up on the back if the couch and observing the living area as his family bustles about. He is content.

One day the dad leaves, he doesn't know why, but every once in a while he comes back. The family is filled with joy and he jumps and barks demanding treats and pets. He may not always get treats but he is never lacking in pets.

Then one day the kids are gone too and it's just him and mom. It's quiet and lonely in this giant house now. Oreo mostly sleeps, wondering where his family has gone. If they left him, but one day he's taken by mom. They both travel somewhere, he remembers sleeping for a really long time and waking up alone, but mom quickly finds him as he barks his heart out. 

Soon he's barking from joy though as he see's his entire family. They're in a new home, but that doesn't matter to him because everyone is here.

Oreo likes this new home. There is a sensible garden, cats to bark at, new dogs to meet and best of all he is never alone. Grandmother is always home with him, either watching tv or working in the garden. She's a little clumsy and sometimes doesn't notice Oreo, but she's kind, feeding him tasty scraps and letting him out whenever he wants.

Life is good for Oreo he's happy and taken care off. Maybe he doesn't have as much energy as he used to, he's an old boy with more gray hairs than black. His favorite things to do now are sleep, eat and beg for treats. He always appreciates scratches though, wagging his stubby tail in appreciation. 

He wakes up one morning, feeling hungry for the first time in a couple days. Oreo gets some cheese from the father, gets pets from his favorite human - the brother and sits by the garden window, observing the street. It's a nice day, clear sky, not much of a chill and the sun is shinning bright.

It's a good time for a nice long nap.