Devonne Brown

“I don’t want to hear you say ‘I regret’ getting that puppy in two weeks when school starts,” said Buddy to his mom. She’d be the one taking care of it, feeding, watering, cleaning up its shit. She was very particular about her stuff and didn’t want a damned dog eating her furniture. Some of it was over a century old. 

“I won’t, Buddy. I need a dog to keep me moving, to get me out of the chair whether I want out of it or not. Sure, I’ll teach him to be a couch potato, but he’ll teach me to go outside more and on walks. It’ll be a symbiotic relationship. I’ll love to hate him.”

“Can he sleep with me?” asked Buddy. 

“No, he has to sleep in his crate. You never wash your sheets. He’ll be all over the house soon enough. We need to make sure he’s housebroken before we give him the run of the place. He’ll eat your shoes, or maybe the couch.” said Mom.

“Why do you want a big old dog?” asked Buddy.

“I need him for protection, and company. I remember you wanted him too, you know.”she said.

“Yeah, but I’m a boy. All boys want dogs. You’re the mom. You’re supposed to have a fit about it and tell me no, we’re kind of reversing roles here, Mom,” 

Buddy had a point. Mom was being a kid about the dog thing. She was more excited. She liked the idea of having a dog. She liked dogs. The cat didn’t mind dogs, he liked beating up dogs. A puppy would get along with cats too. It was a win win. 

“So why can’t he sleep with me? The cats sleep with you? I deserve an animal to sleep with me, Mom. It’s not fair.”

“I can’t help it if none of the cats like you. You’ll have to be home more to get the dog to like you though. He won’t sleep with someone he doesn’t know. He has morals.” 

Buddy blushed. “What are you saying Mom?’

“Dogs don’t just sleep around. They are selective with whom they choose to bed down. It’s not like you can buy them dinner and drinks and wham, they’ll end up in the sack with you. It takes a little bit of finesse to get a dog to sleep with you. You’ve got to win them over a little bit.” 

“Shut up, Mom,” said Buddy.

“No, I’m for real. Dogs expect a certain level of respect before they’ll go to bed with you. You at least have give them treats and teach them a trick or two. They do have some self respect you know.”