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On a recent visit to Chesterton to visit my parents, the kids relaxed before bed with a viewing of 101 Dalmatians that my dad recorded on their DVR. Our TV viewing at home is limited to DVDs and Netflix, so it was mildly amusing to watch how riveting the kids found the commercial breaks. Until it wasn’t so amusing…

Aided by a sugar rush from too many of my mom’s homemade chocolate chip cookies, Ana suddenly shrieked, “PETSMART?!?! I WANT A PET!!!!!!!!” For as long as I have been a part of this family, these children have begged for a dog. At this point, I’m the hold-out. I’m still getting used to living with people (and they are reasonably self-sufficient), let alone living with a four-legged creature (clearly not self-sufficient).

I launched into my oft-rehearsed monologue about the tremendous responsibilities of having a dog and ended with the standard, “…and dogs are expensive, blah blah blah.”

My dad got a familiar, ornery glint in his eye. “You should just go to the shelter! You can get a dog there for free!”

“No, Dad,” I sternly responded. “I’m not talking about just the costs of buying a dog, I’m talking about the cost of care. Besides, shelter animals aren’t free, there’s a fee you pay to cover the care they received and vaccines and stuff.”

“Oh, okay,” he replied, PULLING OUT HIS WALLET. Seriously! He starts to hand me $60 to cover the fee and the kids starting screaming and cheering.

“NONONONONONO,” I cut him off with my volume and crazed expression. “We aren’t ready for a dog! And now it’s time for bed!”

Sigh. I may have won the battle but am sure to lose the war.

4 Comments

  • Abby Deuberry Demeter
    Posted June 9, 2016 at 4:04 am

    Bwahahahaha! That is awesome. You will have a dog soon enough. I know it!

  • dollybike
    Posted June 10, 2016 at 1:01 am

    Maybe you can use the excuse that there is no one to care for the dog when you travel because Gammy and Bopa travel too much too!

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