Melissa+Bower

Dani and Daisy. // Wow, it’s really dark in here… What’s that green thing above me? I can see it through that little hole there. Maybe if I cry a little someone will find me. I hear footsteps! Yay! // “Mommy! Daddy! Mommy! Daddy! What’s in the big box?!” a little girls voice screeched. “Go ahead and open it Honey!” a mans’ voice said. // Maybe it’s the girls’ daddy? // I thought. I heard a ripping noise. Suddenly the wall over my head flew open. A little girl with blonde curls, pulled back into a pony tail, with bright blue eyes, appeared cheerfully. A smile and a happy squeaking came. I wagged my tail, hopefully. Maybe the soft red bow tied around my neck would make her want me! I thought it made my caramel fur look really pretty. // Do I smell pancakes?! Mmmm pancakes. I want some pancakes! // The little girl grabbed me around the tummy and pulled me out of the box. “Be gentle sweetheart.” The girls’ daddy said. “Mommy, Daddy! You got me a puppy! My very own puppy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” The girl said happily. “Merry Christmas, I love you!” She squeezed me so tight, I let out a high pitched yelp. “Be gentle, Dani! The puppy is very little and you could hurt her.” Her mom said. “Oh, sorry puppy.” The blue eyed girl looked down at me. “Why’s my puppy sniffing at those boxes. Are they for her?” // Yes, go ahead, open them up! // I jumped from the girls arms, and sniffed the pile of shiny, gold boxes. I put my paw on one with a daisy painted on the front. The little girl reached out and began opening it up and inside was a fluffy blue and pink bed with a daisy in the middle. “You like that flower? It’s a daisy, I know! I’m going to name you Daisy!” The rest of the gold boxes were filled with treats and toys all for me! Then she opened her toys. Her parents left and we went to playing. I wagged my tail excitedly and nudged at my new rope toy. “//Play. Play.”// “Huh! You talk?! My first puppy ever and it talks! We are going to be the best of friends!” Dani clapped with excitement. “Yay! I’m so excited too. I wished for a friend for Christmas. Can you get my breakfast now?” “Sure!” Dani said happily.”I’ll go get you some pancakes, eggs, bacon, and cocoa!” “No, I wish I could but I need to eat puppy food. Your food will make me sick.” I said sadly. My floppy golden swirled ears dropped further down than normal. “Oh, well what do I do then?” Dani asked confused. “Put my pup food in that bowl, and water in the other one.” I said cheerfully. “Okay,” After Dani and I finished our breakfast, Dani wanted to take me out to the backyard. “Come on Daisy! Mommy I’m going to take Daisy outside!” “Don’t forget her collar and leash! She could run away without them.” Her mom said. “She wouldn’t run away! We are best friends Mommy,” Dani said. // Well no, I wouldn’t mean to run away from her, but I do like to explore. // “Just in case Honey put them on her and hold tight!” “Okay…” Dani said. // I found that I really don’t like having to have my leash on. // We played all day and when we came back inside Dani brushed me, and I told her which way to brush my fur so that it felt good. She was really happy to take care of me. “See Dani? It’s not too hard to take care of me! I’m just like you but a little different.” I said. “You are right. I am already getting used to it. Merry Christmas Daisy! You are the best!”