There I was just sitting down by the local lake running my fingers through the fresh, cold water, it had been about four days that my family and I had moved here. Odessa, Texas was so much different from Cleveland, Ohio. It was warmer that was for sure but it was so much quieter and lonelier, the locals were nice but things seemed so boring. The only thing to do around here was sit by a lake or climb a tree, both of which were totally un-likeable, suddenly I felt a tapping on my shoulder. I looked up and sighed as I saw my father, a former army officer and present police officer looking down at me, I could tell that he was wondering why I was sitting by a lake by myself. I was normally a hyper and weird teenager that ran around excitedly but there was nothing here that could make me hyper except from the occasional sugar full energy drink.

"What you doing out here by yourself kid, we're having a barbeque with the neighbours, care to join us?"

I shrugged my shoulders, the thought of spending some time with the clean freaks next door was enough to make me want to stay out by the lake all night

"I'm fine, dad" I aid trying to look as happy as possible.

My dad gave me an unconvinced look and folded his arms

"come on. Get something to eat, you look hungry"

I rolled my eyes but nodded, at least my father was trying to get me to have some fun. I got to my feet and followed him back to our home which wasn't too far away, it was really beautiful and big

"burgers or hotdogs?" my dad asked smiling

I shrugged my shoulders, my attention was on my neighbours, the Smiths. They really were an odd bunch, they were nice but almost too nice, they had a large grin permanently on their cheery faces

"Candice, I asked you a question" my father said

I snapped out of my stare and smiled up at my dad

"um, burger, please" I said.

My dad nodded and walked over to my mother beside the barbeque, I rested my hands on my hips and shook my head, I really wished that I hadn't left Ohio. I hated being in Odessa, it was a huge difference and I left all my friends behind, it was awful. Suddenly I heard a weird sound, I turned around and listened, there it was again a familiar sound, like a dog barking. That's when I noticed a beautiful golden dog bounding out of the Smiths home, he was gorgeous and his tail was wagging with fast speed, I smiled happily at him as he made his way over to me.

"Wow, you're very beautiful, what's your name?" I asked him in a high pitched voice as I stroked his back happily

I looked at his red collar and checked his name tag, 'Lucy', it read. It turned out he was a she, she sat down beside me and I sat down with her, here was someone I could get used to, the Smith family smiled at me and Lucy. I noticed my mom and dad were also looking at me with smiles, I got a little bit embarrassed and quickly got to my feet again

"so, how's my burger coming along?" I asked trying to change subjects

My dad nodded

"just fine, honey" he said happily.

I walked towards him and looked back at Lucy who was laying on the grass rubbing her golden fur into the grass

"so you like Lucy?, how about a dog to cheer you up then?, I think I saw kennels not too far from here" my dad said.

My eyes widened with delight and I nodded

"yeah!, I so want a dog!" I said

My dad nodded and handed me a burger on a white plate. I ran over to a chair that was near my mother and sat down happily, a dog would be amazing and so fun.

__________________________________________________________________________________