BELLA
When I was in the sixth grade the only thing I wanted in the world was a dog. I had been wanting a dog for a while but my parents would always say to me “No, no, no”. I eventually wrote a letter to my parents, which they still have to this day, saying everything I would do for a dog. I said I would walk it, feed it, play with it, pick up its poop, so on and so forth. My parents then realized how serious I was about getting a dog so one day they decided to surprise my brother and me.
It was a Saturday afternoon my parents told my brother and me that we were going to a museum in Columbia, South Carolina. I was not excited to drive two hours in a cramped car to visit a museum in South Carolina but my parents insisted. We finally got close to where the “museum” was but instead of continuing we turned into a neighborhood. I was so confused and started asking question after question; “Why are we pulling into a neighborhood?”, “What type of museum is this?”, “Are we close to the museum?”, “Are we even going to a museum?”. My parents were trying to divert the conversation to anything else. My dad eventually said we were picking up his friend and then going to the “museum”. Then I was like great, “I have to make conversation with someone I don’t know and go to a museum I don’t want to go to”. We turn into a driveway and get out of the car but before we go into the house my parents stop us. As a brisk January breeze blew against my skin I felt cold and annoyed. My dad then said, “We’re not here to go to a museum, we’re here to get your new dog”! My head shot up faster than a rocket and excitement filled my body. I couldn’t believe it, I sprinted to the door, nearly tripping up the steps.
We walked into the stuffy house and although it smelled like pee, there were eight little puppies running around. Cute, fluffy, small, clumsy, and adorable. My mind was racing and I was overwhelmed by the amount of thoughts running through it. Things like: ‘Is this real life?’, ‘Has the day actually come?’, ‘OH MY GOD!’, ‘Wait, what are we going to name it?’, ‘Wait, can we take them all home?’. My heart melted as I immediately dropped to the floor to play with them. My dad had told me that they were French Brittany Spaniels. They had a beautiful mix of snow white and auburn fur. There was also a little black one sitting in the corner chowing down on some food. They are bread to be hunting dogs but also make perfect, loyal pets. Baby puppies are like little drunk balls of fur stumbling all over the place. I thought I was dreaming the entire time.
My eyes were instantly drawn to the runt of the litter, originally named Daydream, who was trying to nudge others out of the way so she could get to the food bowl. Of course I went over to help her out because she looked like she was struggling. The moment I picked her up I became overwhelmed with love for this four week old puppy. Her fur felt like a cloud and she had auburn coloring on her face that looked like she had only half a mustache. Captivated by this newborn ball of joy I couldn’t imagine not having her in my life.
After playing with the puppies for an hour, which only felt like a minute, they were tired and passed out in the strangest yet adorable positions I have ever seen. I couldn’t imagine just taking one home but we all unanimously decided on Daydream, the smallest and cutest of them all. We wanted to take her home that day but the dogs were still only four weeks old so we wouldn’t be able to take her home for another four more weeks. Not being able to take our new puppy home that day was so upsetting.
My family and I went to Cracker Barrel afterwords to think of a name for the new member of our family. We sat down and the aroma of maple syrup encompassed us as we ordered and played the peg jump game. Still on a high of excitement we start brainstorming names for our puppy. From Snickers to Dolce to Bailey to Cappuccino to Buttercup to Cookie to Luna to Noodles to Muffin. Why most of the names we came up with were food, I’m not sure. Maybe it was because we were so hungry. About 100 names later I say “What about Bella?” and all at once my family’s eyes light up, we knew that was the perfect name.
The next four weeks were unbearable and like the next four years. There was not a moment when the thought of my new puppy was not on my mind; even in my dreams I was thinking of her. I would fall asleep and immediately be taken to a big open green field where Bella and I would play all day. In the next few weeks we had gone to the pet store a handful of times to get everything we needed. My favorite part was walking up and down the aisles picking out her dog bed, collar, leash, and toys. I wanted to buy everything in the store, including all the dog outfits they had. They had cute pink sweaters, little dog booties, rain jackets, t-shirts, and even some hats. Its a good thing my mom was there to reason with me or I would have gotten it all.
The day had come, February 14, which I thought was very fitting considering the amount of love I had for this puppy. Four weeks had passed and we were on our way back down to Colombia, South Carolina. This time around I was ecstatic about the two hour car ride and my heart would not stop racing. With Bella’s new dog tag and collar in hand, we arrived at the house once again. Just like before, I sprint up to the door being extra careful about the steps this time. As the door opened I spot Bella instantly. She’s already so much bigger just in four weeks. I slipped on her new collar, which was still way too big for her, and she was officially mine.
The car ride back home was the best car ride of my life. Even though Bella slept the entire time, I was perfectly content just watching her and stroking her tiny head. I couldn’t wait to show Bella her new home. Although I knew she would be overwhelmed with seeing her new environment, I wanted to introduce her to all her new toys and our backyard. I figured as she experienced her new surroundings she would soon love it.
I remember not being able to go to sleep at night because I would just want to play with her. The next morning I would jump out of bed just to see her cute, half mustached face. Day after day I would have the same routine, get up and play with Bella, go to school, come home and play with Bella, maybe do some homework, play with Bella again, then go to bed and repeat. Bella was just a puppy and so new to the world she was learning how to do things too. I remember she would always try to scratch her ear and run at the same time but it never worked out. I taught her how to sit, stay, lay down, roll over, and shake, but the coolest trick I taught her was how to play dead. I annoyed my family because I kept saying “BAM, BAM, BAM” over and over again until she got it. Now when I ask her to do tricks she does all of them at once but she still gets a treat because she’s cute.
I’ve had Bella for seven years now, she always makes my days so much better. If I am ever feeling sad I just have to look at her and she has the biggest smile on her face with her tongue hanging out to the side. Bella has been one of the biggest influences in my life and has taught me so many different lessons. She has taught me responsibly, how to love unconditionally, and honestly, she has also taught me how to just go with the flow, relax, and be happy. Dogs are one of the happiest creatures I have seen on this planet. There are a lot of things that a dog needs to have a good life, so I have learned how to think of others, and not just about myself. I’ve also learned to love and accept others for who they are. Bella has taught me this because dogs don’t care what you look like or how you dress all they want is someone to love them and play with them. Bella has impacted everyones life in my family for the better. Everyone in my family says Bella is their favorite, and it is true.
