Chapter 26
~.~
Warning: Sad chapter ahead!
March 31, 2032
Penny has gotten old and has since retired as a service dog, but we were welcome to keep her. So we did. Becky got a new service dog named Corrie shortly after Dustin and Eira were born. Same breed, but Corrie is brown and white, while Penny is brown, black and white.
Becky and I are at home, on paternity and maternity leave while our fifteen-year old is in her sophomore year of high school.
I can't believe how fast Ruby's growing.
They say time flies when you have children of your own, and they would be right.
The twins are a little over three months old, and both Corrie and Penny have been nothing but great with them, and Ruby has taken her big sister duties very seriously, when she's available.
Now, the twins are asleep in their bassinets in their room.
We've gotten accustomed to being in a big house, as opposed to our tiny apartment.
Penny suddenly collapses while she's walking towards us.
"Penny!" Becky and I both exclaim.
Becky runs towards her former service dog, kneeling down.
"I'll call the vet." I dial our vet's number and she comes over. She rarely makes house calls, but she makes an exception for us, knowing we've got two newborns at home.
She places Penny on our kitchen counter, the closest sterile surface.
She performs a checkup as we wait with bated breath.
"Her heartbeat is slowing down, and it's getting slower by the minute. I'm afraid she might not last much longer."
Becky gasps and begins to sob into my chest.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" I ask, wrapping my arms around my distraught wife.
"I'm afraid the most I can do is wait with you."
"I'll call the school and go get Ruby. Penny was there when she was born. She should be here."
"I'd hurry."
After kissing my wife, I rush to the school after calling them to pull Ruby out of class for a family emergency.
Ruby meets me at the front entrance of the school.
"Daddy, what's going on? The office said something about a family emergency. Is Mama okay? Are the twins okay? Are you okay?"
"Everyone's fine, Ruby. Well, all…all except Penny. She's dying. She doesn't have much time left, I'm afraid."
"What are we still doing here? Go!"
I speed off after my eldest daughter buckles her seatbelt.
As fate would have it, we hit every red light.
I can only pray we make it in time.
We get home, and head inside.
"She's still here, Eret. I think she knows. She wanted to wait for Ruby."
Over the past fourteen years, Ruby and Penny have gotten close. Not as close as Penny and Becky got close, considering she wasn't just her pet, she was also her service dog.
Ruby goes over to Penny and the three of us kneel in front of our old girl, where our vet, Fiona, keeps a constant check on her heartbeat.
"Go ahead, honey. Say your goodbyes." Becky tells Ruby.
"Penny, you have no idea how much the past fourteen years have meant to me. Thank you for helping my mom, and for also being a great companion. I love you and I'm going to miss you like hell."
Neither I nor Becky bother to scold our daughter. We know this is as hard on her as it is on us.
Becky is next to say her goodbyes.
"Penny, thank you so much for all you've done for us through the years. And thank you for saving my life. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you. None of my kids would be here if it weren't for you. So thank you. So so much, old girl. I love you and I'm going to miss you so much."
I'm next to say my goodbyes while Ruby and Becky get the twins so they can each have one final pet to our beloved Penny.
"Penny…I'm really going to miss you. You saved Becky's life, and I will be forever grateful to you. We'll never forget you and we'll never stop loving you. Thank you for saving Becky's life, and for letting us return the favor with our love."
Ruby, Becky and the twins barely make it in time.
With Dustin and Eira each giving one final pet to Penny, and us also doing the same, Penny takes her final breath.
Becky struggles not to break down.
I wrap my arms around my family.
Corrie howls, knowing Penny is now gone.