A New Home by Jessica Innamorato

A New Home

by Jessica Innamorato

When my mom met my Step dad he had 3 dogs and a cat and we had 2 dogs...his cat was my age (I was 13) and one of his dogs (fatboy) was about 10....this was our new home...well around 3 years later they grew older (obviously) and sicker (sadly)...Fatboy (being a rotwhiler) had bad hips and soon was past the point of being able to walk or even control his bladder...and Tasha (his cat) grew to become blind...now September 11th is known for being a sad day as it is for many people even though this is the year 2004 ...on Friday, September tenth I was at a football game in Lakeland (I'm in colorguard...the band performs..in case u didnt no) I had a great day all was going my way...but when I arrived home I was in for a surprise...at the bottom of the stairs curled up in a little peaceful ball was Tasha...i nudged her to see if she would wake up and greet me, as she loves to still be included but she wouldnt move...I screamed to my mom, Tashas not moving!!! She wont move! I started to cry but it sort of felt okay.... My mom told me that she sat with her for a few moments then w/ my step dad and then just left them for a while. It looked like she was saying goodbye, my mom told meso then I thought for a moment, I thought maybe she was waiting for me and in a way it was okay that she was gone but still the tears streamed down my face and the sobbing continued The next day I went to band practice and fought through breaking out into any sign of sadness until finally at the end of the practice I broke down I mentioned it barely to Brenna and Kait about Tashas moving on.but the pain remainedwhen I got home I had completely forgot about the plan for Fatboy (we had been planning to put him down for months now but could never get the courage or the money for it)Finally we had set this day for him My mom asked me if I wanted to do it today or put it off.. I said that he suffered enough and lets keep the pain and grieving to the same weekend I sat with him for hours as he was soon going to pass on he refused to die while we were there though, so I let him lick my face as he loved to in his younger days but no one would let himhe licked it rapidly even though his strength grew weakwe all left for a moment as he gave us a look that it was okaywhen we returned he was finally gonehis eyes open as he was still grasping onto life in his last momentshe finally let go after holding on for so long. We buried them together just last nightthey loved each other very much and never did like being alone so together they rest in a little patch of the woods in our yard. I got the honor of the first scoop of dirt unto them and after that we all pitched in with the burial after all the soil was packed down we lay rocks all over the top. My heart longed for Fatboys joyous smile and bark and Tashas soothing rub as she sat in her spot on my couch in my roomlittle memories passed through my mind but I knew that it was all okay. I went inside and balled my eyes out as I softly fell asleep. And today I am at my friend, Brennas house telling you my story I know its long but I couldnt leave out a detail thank you for caring enough to read this whole thing I loved them and cant stand loosing them even though I only knew them for a short while. bye, farewell, and Ill save a tear for you every day my little companions with loveJess

Comments would be appreciated by the author, Jessica Innamorat