My Happy Day by Shay Shay Lange

Today is one of the great days in my life as a dog. See, I really like when people come to visit me and I know that everyone who comes to the door of my house is here just to see me. My Grandmother, that’s the loud lady named Dana, was running around the house this morning, putting out plates and lots of glasses. She is my Grandmother because her daughter Carter is my Mommy. When Dana picked up my bed from the kitchen and put it downstairs by Carter’s room I knew that we were going to have a party. My bed only gets moved when there are going to be a lot of people in my house. And Iike I said already, I like Iots of people.

Soon after my bed disappeared four other ladies showed up carrying boxes and pans, with food drink and ice in them all. They scurried about talking about what time lunch would be served and they all pet me and snuggled me and said what a good dog I was. I would have been fine for them to come without the boxes and pans as long as they hugged and petted me.

While everyone else was sitting in the living room I stood at the front glass door and watched as many other ladies who looked like my Grandmother came up the walk way carrying wreaths and cakes and other treats, for me? I got lots of snuggles, but not one treat. I did not care, visitors are the treat I like best. Suddenly I realized it was very loud in my house with lots of ladies standing in the kitchen and breakfast room talking and drinking, so I went in the living room and sat on the sofa when no one else was. There to tell me no.

After a while all the talking quieted down and I went back to the big room where that giant bright tree was growing inside. I saw my Grandmother standing in the middle of the room while all the other friends sat in a ring around her. One other skinny lady was carrying a cake and Grandmother Dana was calling out numbers and names and pointing at people. It was kind of like the way she plays ball with me. She throws me the ball and I catch it and bring it back. When she was finished calling out the numbers the skinny lady gave the person who Dana last pointed at the cake, then everybody clapped.

I thought they were clapping for me so I came up to the big room and sniffed around at the cakes and presents sitting on the floor. Nothing was made of liver or beef heart so I jumped up on one nice ladies lap and let her get happiness petting me.

This calling out numbers thing went on for an hour and then suddenly everyone got up and went to the dining room where they got plates of salmon, orzo, salad, rolls and tarts. Nothing I wanted so I just went to snuggle with my grandmother.

Before I knew it the ladies were kissing me good bye and carrying out all the cakes and wreaths and presents. I was left with the four original friends who washed the dishes and put away the glasses and laughed and talked. Still no liver for me, but lots of ear scratches and back rubs.

Grandmother got my bed from downstairs so I could lie down in the kitchen. I closed my eyes for just a minute, exhausted from all the friends who came to see me. When I opened them again the house was silent. No glasses were clinking, no friends were laughing, no numbers were being called out. I guess I have to wait another two years for my grandmother’s garden club Christmas auction to come to our house and bring back my friends to visit me. Next time I hope someone brings a freeze dried liver wreath. I would bid all I have to win that. Even if it never happens I think I like having the friends in my house loving me best of all.