Hi! My name is Boy! My story starts off 15 dog years ago, when I was born with my brothers and sisters. I don’t remember a lot, but I always had food, and I was never alone. One day I saw this weird looking animal, my mom said it was called a squirrel, it made funny noises, and then it ran!! I just HAD to chase it!!! So I did! Boy those squirrels are fast!! We ran for a long time and we went far from home, then it went up a tree and I lost it!! Darn squirrel! Then my tummy started to make weird noises and I didnt feel so good, so I started to walk home, mom would know what to do. But I got lost and couldn’t find home. I walked around for a long time but then it got dark, so I found a bridge and curled up under it. I was cold, tired and hungry…and it was the first time I truly felt alone.

 Days went by and I gave up on finding home. But I still needed to find food! So I went into this city with lots of people and tall towers. Then! I smelled something wonderful! My nose was in doggy heaven! I found a man who was cooking something amazing…Meat Logs!!!!   (Hot Dogs)   Oh how they smelled delicious. The man dropped one so I ran for it! And I caught it!!! Oh it tasted soooo good! That’s when I fell in love with meat logs!!! Then the man kicked me, “Get out of here ya stupid mutt” he said. So I went walking along finding food anywhere I could. Humans are messy and leave food behind for Dogs like me to eat up, they are so thoughtful. They even call me names like “stupid mutt” and “dumb dog”. I’m pretty sure they are thanking me! 

As I was walking one day, I found this big place that had lots of food! Just as I was enjoying this delicious meal a man came out streaming at me to leave and started throwing my food at me, how rude! My hopes were down that day, I hadn’t gotten much to eat and that’s when I first saw my Amelia. I remember her walking up to me in a pretty red dress and she had black hair, like mine! She came up to me saying “here boy, here boy!” She seemed nice and smelled like flowers and she always had bows in her hair. I walked up to her and she started rubbing my ears, then I rolled over and she rubbed my tummy, she was so kind!!! “Good boy, good boy,” she said. “Yes you’re my good boy, aren’t you boy?” That’s when she gave me the name Boy.  She took me home that day and gave me a warm bath and for dinner she gave me meat logs! My favorite! How’d she know? Mom and dad weren’t really happy with me around at first, dad smelled like meat logs and mom smelled like dirt, mom liked digging in the garden. I liked that too, but whenever I would dig in the garden with her, she would get mad, it was fun! But after days of chewing on dads shoes and playing hide and seek with moms garden tools, I eventually won my way in their hearts and they let me stay. I was so happy! I had a family again. 

Amelia and I would play hide and seek all the time and then we would go outside and she would throw a stick and I would catch it! Oh I loved that stick! As Amelia and I were playing one day in the yard, she threw my stick across the fence. Darn! It got away! But oh boy I was gonna get my stick!!! So I ran as fast as I could and I jumped the fence. That’s when I saw that squirrel again! He looked at me and I looked at him! Then he ran, oh but I was determined to be faster than him this time. So I ran as fast as I could chasing that squirrel!  Right then as I was almost across the road, a big box on wheels almost hit me! It made a loud sound and I got so scared!!! The woman in the box came out, she was also scared, then Amelia came running out with mom and dad and they were scared! It was very scary! Amelia threw her arms around me, she said “Don’t scare me like that Boy! What would I do without you?” I had to do better! That night Amelia let me lay on the bed with her while she was sleeping. She was my person! And it was my duty to protect my best friend! No squirrel was getting in the way of me and Amelia again! not on my watch, No Sir! 

A couple of days went by and Amelia and I went on a walk to the park. That was always fun, I got to see all kinds of people and other dogs too! As we were leaving, mom said “love you, and be safe” of course Amelia would be safe, she had me! But on the way there I saw that Squirrel again!!! NO!!!! I swear he was following me! I had to catch one of these things, So I ran as fast as I could! I pulled and dragged Amelia behind me until she let go. I felt bad, but she’d understand once I caught the squirrel, right? And I almost got him! I was so close!!!!…. But then…I heard a loud noise that the big boxes on wheels made, I heard Amelia scream, she sounded so scared, and then a screeching sound and then…it was silent, I couldn’t hear Amelia… I ran back and she was laying there…maybe she was playing dead, I nudged her a little, but she didn’t stop playing. People were screaming all around me. I just layed down next to her, I didn’t know what else to do. She was still warm, but silent. She seemed different, like she was alone, I remembered feeling alone. Then boxes on wheels with lights and sirens came, they moved me away from Amelia and surrounded her. 

Mom and dad arrived shortly after, they were talking to a man with a gold star on his chest, then they started crying. Dad looked over and saw me, he came up screaming at me. All I did was chase a dumb squirrel, Amelia was right behind me at first.  Mom pulled him away and they left. I found Amelia’s red bow on the road, I picked it up and started walking home just as it started to rain. I shouldn’t have gone after that squirrel, what’s wrong with me? I am a Bad Boy. When I got home I layed on the porch and waited…. It’s been a long, long time, and I’m still waiting. Amelia’s still not home, what will I do without her? I can still smell her… But I can’t feel her…Amelia made me feel happy and loved…but now I am alone…again, But it’s gonna be okay…she’ll be back…and I brought her bow home, so when she comes back, it will be sitting here waiting for her!