Yuggle: My Dog Hawk

My whole life I have wanted a dog. If someone was walking their dog outside of my house, I would yell “hey you! I love your dog!” and the person would look around trying to find that high pitched voice that just came out of nowhere. Whenever I would go to a friend’s or my parents friends house, the first sentence I would say to my host would have the words “hi, pet, dog, can I, play, and so cute!” And I would play with the cute little creature until it was time to leave. Don’t even get me started about stuffed animals. You could call me spoiled, obsessed, etc. but really I just love animals! I have about 97 of them and about 35% of them are dogs! That’s about 34 plush dogs! When my brother saw his new baby sis there was a special moment, and he handed me a soft, plush, pink, squeaky pup. I still have it and that is very special to me. I love it! So that’s a little about me and my history about dogs. But the biggest thing that had ever happened to me was when I got my dog Hawk.

My feet hit the sidewalk with soft, but lethargic thud. “So, are we going to make some more awesome videos? Remember when I hit my funny bone and you had no idea why I was laughing so hysterically? That was soo much fun!” Sara exclaimed. Sara is one of my best childhood friends. We love to make goofy stupid little videos that don’t even get posted on YouTube; we just like to have fun. In 3^rd grade, every Thursday, Sara and I would walk to my house until it was time to go to chorus.

As we approach the door there is a note saying to use the garage. I enter the code; let Sara go in front of me so she can go in first. Well, she is the guest after all. And there was a weird expression, like she was shocked, almost horrified. But then she turns to me… and she was smiling! What was going on? I rush through the door and find my parents and my brother, Hayden beaming at me. I peek behind them and see, a, a, a dog!?!!!

“Whose dog is this?” I ask, knowing anyone in their right mind would know that there was no way my family would be getting a dog added to the chain. “We’re not babysitting if that’s what you’re saying” interprets my mom. “Let’s just say it’s an experiment.” I quickly got up and hugged my mom and dad at once. “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!” I say, trying to put my spontaneous feelings into thanks.

The dog was white with black spots; just like Sara’s. He had an outrageously large nose. And like a skunk, he had a white stripe on his head. But that part was normal. He had an absurd hairdo. There was a horizontal halo perched gently on his head… he had a Mohawk. Mom told me that his name was Hawk (I wondered why until I found out it was because of his hairdo), and that she might adopt him.

Sara was as shocked as I was; maybe even a little more than I was, even though I was practically crying. Ding dong! Sara’s mom stood outside in the warm summer heat while we were almost freezing, but we didn’t notice, Hawk was there. As the door opened we heard Sara’s mom exclaim, “So that’s the dog! OMG is he CUTE!” As Sara left I promised her that I would tell her everything that happens after she leaves.

Hawk never really did anything for 3 days straight. He ate his food and occasionally got up from his slumber and get some water, but that was it. If we were going to pet him, he would just look up and go back to hibernation. It was the sadest thing.

After a few days of this, we had a family meeting. Mom said that he might be still drowsy from the medicine when he had surgery that the adoption center had him have (they didn’t want more puppies!), but it should have worn off by now. I suggested from watching animal planet that his past owner could have removed his vocal cords because he would be too noisy. Then one day, when coming home from a movie, we heard a loud, almost a threatening sound, there was a bark. “Barking!!!” Hayden and Mom said together. We ran inside to be greeted by an enthusiastic poodle. He was so happy Mom was worried that the happiness was him telling us that he had to go to the bathroom really badly.

We had another family meeting that night. We don’t know why Hawk is so droopy. And as we were talking about it, the star of the show came by and just laid-down under the table. Immediately Hayden and I got up and started petting and fawning over Hawk. But then Mom scolded me and so I had to come back up and sit at the kitchen table. “Maybe he’s depressed? He hasn’t seen his owners in a while…” said Mom. “But were his owners now” I protested, hurt that he doesn’t like us, or at least not yet.

Day after day Hawk would just lay there, barely even moving. I couldn’t take it anymore. The thing that I have wanted my whole life is finally here, and it barely notices me! Running, I go upstairs, almost tripping over myself. I grab some extra long socks that I have a million of, and tie them together. Then I fall back down the stairs, and throw the sock toy at Hawk. His eyes open. ‘Okay, good, I got his attention.’ So now I am whipping it around, trying to make it look fun.

Hawk slowly got up and eyed the alien toy suspiciously. Then he hobbled over to the location where I was, which was very close to him. I could see the look in his eyes, the yearning to play, the sudden impulse to grab that toy out of my hands and shred it to bits. Phwomp! The impact of his 65 pound body hit my arms head on. No really, his gleaming fangs bruised my bony hands making me go into shock. My depressed dog actually played a game with me. Hawk was now prancing around the living room, showing off his victory. I gaze at the happy sight until reality came back. There was a pang in my hand. It wasn’t sharp like a cramp, but more like a bruise. Oww!? That really hurt. I put an ice cube on the irritated skin and secured it with a towel. I started throwing the socks around again, but Hawk seemed tired again. I sleepily walk up the stairs and after I do my nightly routine I go to sleep.

As my eyes open the light from my windows blind me. Ahh! It burns! I throw the heavy lairs of comforters and bed sheets off of me; it felt like I was being squished! Then I speed through my daily agenda for mornings so I can see if Hawk will play some more before I leave for school.

As school begins I can’t help but think about Hawk. I tell Sara about Hawk at lunch. As the day ends, I start to forget about Hawk. Beeep! The last bell of the day rang; which means that I can go play with Hawk! Adrenaline pulses through me like lightening. I must play with my puppy! My clumsy footsteps fall hard and fast against the concrete sidewalk.

Now that I am at home, I can play with Hawk! But I am greeted by Mom. “I took Hawk to the vet today just to make sure that he is healthy. I saw you guy playing so I mentioned that to the vet also. She said that if it weren’t for you, this dog would have been depressed and anything but playful for the rest of his life.” Awestruck I say, “Wow, I guess this really is the perfect dog for this family. Who else would have risked getting slobber over their knee highs?” “Ha ha, I guess you’re right. But make sure Hawk does not chew on all of your stuff. OK?” Chuckled my Mom.

Hawk will always be there for me just like I was there for him. When I come home he is usually sitting outside with his goofy grin that my family loves so much. I have had many adventures with my enthusiastically silly dog. But that would waste so many trees if I wrote all of them down so it would be better to have them just as memories.