Angel Gets A Collar

Angel and Lady were upstairs in the nursery, a habit they had taken up the last few days since Angel had come to live with them. The rest of the family, humans included, but minus Jim Dear, were downstairs. Jim Dear was due home from work at any moment.

These afternoons alone with Lady had become special times for Angel, who had never had a motherly mentor. They talked about all manner of things, and most importantly they listened to each other. Lady told stories about her life before and after meeting Tramp and having a new baby in the house and about raising Scamp and his sisters. Angel told of her time on the street and falling in with the Junkyard dogs and about dreaming of having a family of her own one day.

Angel thought that Lady was the most glamorous dog she'd ever meet. So refined. Sp demure. So everything Angel wanted herself to be!

A door opened and shut.

"Angel!" Jim Dear's voice.

Lady rose to her feet automatically, tail quivering with excitement at the sound of her master's voice. Angel stayed where she was, still unfamiliar with a human voice calling her name.

"Come on, dear," Lady paused in the doorway to look back, "Jim Dear's calling."

They trooped down the stairs- the sound of Lady's licence jingling always twisted Angel's heart a bit. She loved Lady, of course, but her heart ached for a place to belong. Not a temporary place. Not like all the times before.

Lady was first off the steps and Jim Dear patted her head fondly. Angel came next and received Jim Dear's pat on the head along with an extra caress under her chin. Darling even set aside Junior for a moment to fuss over her. It made Angel indescribably happy!

What was going on?

Lady took her place beside Tramp, Scamp, and the sisters, to they watched the goings-on with excited anticipation. They seemed to know what was about to happen. Tramp looked especially happy and proud.

Jim Dear picked up a small box off the table and unwrapped its bright purple bow. He lifted the lid.

Angel's excitement grew, though she didn't know why.

Out of that box came her heart's desire! A green collar with golden tags.

As Jim Dear fastened it around her neck and ran his hand down her head and back, she felt as if she'd died and gone to heaven!


Later that evening, Angel stood alone in the sitting room, gazing at reflection in a mirror. She couldn't tear her eyes off the golden licence-sometimes, she even shook her head so that she could hear it jingle!

A shadow loomed behind her.

Tramp came in and sat down.

"It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it?"

Angel nodded and Tramp continued,

"But, it goes far beyond knowing where your next meal is coming from or that you have a warm dry place to sleep."

Angel nodded.

"It's about the that caress on the head, or having them tell the neighbors that they're proud of you for something that you did well-I love being bragged on. Its about those rather ridiculous nights when you sit by the fire and they sing and want you to howl along or playing tug-of-war with one Junior's blankets and making them laugh instead of scold."

Angel laughed uncomprehendingly; she'd never experienced those things before. Tramp sighed fondly as memories rolled through his head.

Angel began to look forward to making such memories. She could do that now.

She had a family.


Author"s Note: This little tale is dedicated to my new puppy Ollie, who came from Animal Control about 6 months ago. He's a sweetie and I sort of imagine that this is what he's thinking when he stares a us with his big brown eyes.