I'm laying on the bed, my head resting on my paws, waiting. Jody is waiting too, but he's not on the bed. He's kneeling on the chair, staring out the window. I wish he would come and get me-I want to look out the window too, but he leaves me here so I just rest and wait.
Jody doesn't like to wait. He likes to run from room to room, in and out the doors asking if it's time yet. It wasn't time yet, but it was time for a nap. Jody's daddy said so. But Jody won't lay down with me. It's lonely here on the bed by myself.
Finally, a car door slams and my ears perk forward. It's time! Suddenly Jody's not on the chair anymore, he's here pulling me off the bed. I settle in under his arm as he yanks open the door and screams, "It's time!"
Then we're flying down the hallway and thumping down the stairs and when we get to the bottom, we're swept up into strong arms and swung around.
Wee! Jody is giggling and squeezing me so tight I have to gasp for air. But I'm giggling too because Jody is holding me out and I'm flying!
But then we stop and Jody begins to pout. "More!" he cries as I pounce on the strong shoulder in front of me.
"I'm not as strong as I used to be, Munchkin," Uncle Jim says.
But Jody pouts louder and demands "More!"
So Uncle Jim swings us around one more time before lowering us to the floor. "How's that?" he asks as he rumples Jody's curly brown hair.
"Perfect!" Jody agrees, hugging Uncle Jim's legs. Jody likes it when Uncle Jim picks him up, cuz Daddy Blair can't. Oh, Daddy Blair snuggles better than anyone in the wholest entire world, but his back is hurt and he can't hold us up. So Uncle Jim does it for him. S'what an uncle is supposed to do.
"So where's the birthday boy?" Uncle Jim asks, putting his hand over his eyes and looking down the empty hall.
"Here! Here I am!" shouts Jody, jumping up and down, waving his arms.
"No! You? But you just turned five. Nah, it's not your birthday again," Uncle Jim says as he begins to peek around doors.
"Is too!" Jody says, stamping his foot. It's a good thing he forgot to put his shoes on, or Daddy Blair would be here scolding him for making so much noise.
Uncle Jim disappears around a corner and then he's back again. He's pulling Daddy Blair into the hall. "I found the birthday boy!" he says.
"No," Jody says, beginning to sniffle. "I'm the birthday boy."
I try to cuddle closer to make him feel better and Jody leans down, rubbing his face in my fur. Poor Jody. It really is his birthday, but everyone must've forgot.
I can hear Daddy Blair whisper to Uncle Jim and Uncle Jim cries out, "It really is?" and Daddy Blair nods. Suddenly we're lifted high above Uncle Jim's head and settled on his shoulders. I'm sitting on top of Uncle Jim's head and I can see him looking way up at us.
"Why, I'll be, it really is your birthday Munchkin! Now how'd that happen?"
Jody shrugs and giggles and I bounce a bit on Uncle Jim's head.
"Well, we'd better go get your presents then," Uncle Jim says.
"Pressies!" Jody yells, pointing to the front door. And then I'm flying again, through the door and into the bright sunshine. I leap through the air and come to land on top of Uncle Jim's truck. It's hot up here and my paws tingle, but I sit still and watch as Jody's arms are filled with pressies. I whimper a little as Uncle Jim and Jody walk away, and I'm left alone.
I sigh and wait, and watch Janie next door water her flowers. I'm almost asleep when another car pulls in behind me and beeps its horn. It's Gamma Nomi and Gamps! I try to sit up tall, hoping that they'll see me. Jody runs from the house again and I bark, just a little, just enough so he'll hear me. But he runs by me. I watch as he gets hugged and cuddled and picked up again. I watch as the three of them laugh and walk into the house.
I'm not afraid. Not really. Not more than just a little bit. Cuz I'm a wolf, and wolfs don't get scared. Daddy Blair said so and he's always right. So I'm not scared, I'm just-lonely.
So I wait some more and soon another car comes. It's Papa Oscar and Gran'mama Elena! I bark and wag my tail and drool a bit. I watch as the front door opens again and this time it's Mama Angel, and she's holding Jody's hand. Jody's scared of Papa Oscar, just a little, and Mama Angel always holds his hand when he first sees Papa. And then everything is okay and Jody doesn't remember being scared.
I watch as they hug and Jody is given more pressies to carry. I stretch my neck and wag my tail as they walk by and suddenly Papa Oscar sees me and says, "What's this?"
He settles me on his shoulder and we're the last ones in the door. The house is loud and I hear Jody laughing somewhere. Papa Oscar carries me into the living room and sets me on the top of the couch. He pats my head and I want to lick his hand, but I can't, so I just pretend I did. But then he leaves me and I'm alone again, but this time I'm in the house.
I hear more laughter and a loud, booming voice. Uncle Simon is here! I wag my tail and wiggle in my perch, but I have to wait. Soon though, Jody runs in and he's followed by a whole parade! He sees me sitting on the couch and runs to me, and hugs me tight. Oh, it feels so nice! Daddy Blair comes over and sits on the couch, and Jody and I get to sit on his lap. I love sitting on Daddy Blair's lap. He cuddles us and rocks us and sings to us when no one else is around. I like that best.
Mama Angel sits next to us and everyone sits around us! It's so exciting! I think we get to open pressies now! Uncle Simon is in the chair next to Daddy Blair and us, and when Gamma Nomi gives Jody a pressie, I get to sit in Uncle Simon's lap. Uncle Simon likes to pet me and it tickles. I try not to make noise though.
Once and a while, I pounce over to the couch to see what Jody got and I even yip a little bit in excitement. Everyone laughs and then I sit in Uncle Simon's lap again.
Jody gets lots of pressies. Just when I think there are no more pressies, Uncle Jim gives Jody another one. It jumps on Jody's lap and I can hear little growly noises coming from under the paper. I whimper, just a little, and wonder what it is. Jody stares at it, and squeezes it and pokes at it before finally tearing off the paper. It's a cat! A wild cat, fierce and strong. It's got black fur and green eyes and it growls at me. I creep closer and smell it and feeling brave, I rub up against the kitty just a bit. It purrs and rubs back!
Jody squeals and claps his hands before scooping us both up in his arms. It's a Jody hug and nobody hugs better than Jody.
Mama Angel slides off the couch and bends over to kiss Jody, then me and the kitty. "Be right back," she promises, smiling. I love Mama Angel. She is so beautiful. She smiles a lot, especially at Daddy Blair and Jody, but she smiles at me too, even when no one is looking. She tells me secrets too, as she strokes my fur. About how she is different than other mama's, and shows me her special hand. She tells me to take care of Jody, because sometimes other kids tease him. They say mean things about Mama Angel and Daddy Blair. I've heard them too, but I just growl and chase them and they take it back. Sometimes it makes Jody cry though.
Mama Angel and Daddy Blair went to school with Jody one day, and I got to go too! They talked to the kids about why Daddy Blair can't pick Jody up, but they all laughed and agreed it's just as good to be cuddled in someone's lap. Mama Angel showed the kids her little ear and her special hand and they all thought that was neat. They don't tease Jody any more, but sometimes other kids do. It still hurts his feelings but we just ignore them.
Gran'mama Elena calls us into the dining room and we all rush in to see a great big cake decorated with a truck and it's all lit up with candles! Jody squeals and claps his hands. Soon everyone is singing and Jody is making a wish and then I get to help blow out all the candles.
Jody helps hand out cake to Uncle Rafe and Uncle Henri, but Uncle Artie says he'll just eat Jody's cake. Jody laughs and shakes his head.
"No, no, no," he says. "Eat your cake," he demands, pushing a big piece into Uncle Artie's hands. Uncle Artie leans over and gives Jody a big, wet kiss on the cheek.
"Ewww!" Jody squeals. Uncle Artie just laughs and goes away. Uncle Simon turns his head and looks at us.
"Free kisses?" he asks, coming our way.
"No! No more kissies. Cake!" Jody says, crossing his arms and glaring at Uncle Simon.
Everyone laughs and we all go back to eating the yummy cake. Before we're done, I start to yawn and Jody does too.
"Tired baby?" Suddenly Mama Angel is there and we're being lifted up into her arms. We're too heavy, but she lifts us anyway. Then someone else is holding us and we're going up the stairs. My eyes are closed but I'm not sleeping! I'm much too excited to sleep.
I sigh as I settle on the bed and soon Kitty is there too, purring and snuggling. Then Jody's there and we're all snuggling tightly together. I don't mind when I get kissed three times. I like kissies. Jody pretends he doesn't, but he does too.
I'm not tired, but it's been a long day, so I think I'll just rest my eyes a bit. But . . . I'm not sleep . . ..
Jody doesn't like to wait. He likes to run from room to room, in and out the doors asking if it's time yet. It wasn't time yet, but it was time for a nap. Jody's daddy said so. But Jody won't lay down with me. It's lonely here on the bed by myself.
Finally, a car door slams and my ears perk forward. It's time! Suddenly Jody's not on the chair anymore, he's here pulling me off the bed. I settle in under his arm as he yanks open the door and screams, "It's time!"
Then we're flying down the hallway and thumping down the stairs and when we get to the bottom, we're swept up into strong arms and swung around.
Wee! Jody is giggling and squeezing me so tight I have to gasp for air. But I'm giggling too because Jody is holding me out and I'm flying!
But then we stop and Jody begins to pout. "More!" he cries as I pounce on the strong shoulder in front of me.
"I'm not as strong as I used to be, Munchkin," Uncle Jim says.
But Jody pouts louder and demands "More!"
So Uncle Jim swings us around one more time before lowering us to the floor. "How's that?" he asks as he rumples Jody's curly brown hair.
"Perfect!" Jody agrees, hugging Uncle Jim's legs. Jody likes it when Uncle Jim picks him up, cuz Daddy Blair can't. Oh, Daddy Blair snuggles better than anyone in the wholest entire world, but his back is hurt and he can't hold us up. So Uncle Jim does it for him. S'what an uncle is supposed to do.
"So where's the birthday boy?" Uncle Jim asks, putting his hand over his eyes and looking down the empty hall.
"Here! Here I am!" shouts Jody, jumping up and down, waving his arms.
"No! You? But you just turned five. Nah, it's not your birthday again," Uncle Jim says as he begins to peek around doors.
"Is too!" Jody says, stamping his foot. It's a good thing he forgot to put his shoes on, or Daddy Blair would be here scolding him for making so much noise.
Uncle Jim disappears around a corner and then he's back again. He's pulling Daddy Blair into the hall. "I found the birthday boy!" he says.
"No," Jody says, beginning to sniffle. "I'm the birthday boy."
I try to cuddle closer to make him feel better and Jody leans down, rubbing his face in my fur. Poor Jody. It really is his birthday, but everyone must've forgot.
I can hear Daddy Blair whisper to Uncle Jim and Uncle Jim cries out, "It really is?" and Daddy Blair nods. Suddenly we're lifted high above Uncle Jim's head and settled on his shoulders. I'm sitting on top of Uncle Jim's head and I can see him looking way up at us.
"Why, I'll be, it really is your birthday Munchkin! Now how'd that happen?"
Jody shrugs and giggles and I bounce a bit on Uncle Jim's head.
"Well, we'd better go get your presents then," Uncle Jim says.
"Pressies!" Jody yells, pointing to the front door. And then I'm flying again, through the door and into the bright sunshine. I leap through the air and come to land on top of Uncle Jim's truck. It's hot up here and my paws tingle, but I sit still and watch as Jody's arms are filled with pressies. I whimper a little as Uncle Jim and Jody walk away, and I'm left alone.
I sigh and wait, and watch Janie next door water her flowers. I'm almost asleep when another car pulls in behind me and beeps its horn. It's Gamma Nomi and Gamps! I try to sit up tall, hoping that they'll see me. Jody runs from the house again and I bark, just a little, just enough so he'll hear me. But he runs by me. I watch as he gets hugged and cuddled and picked up again. I watch as the three of them laugh and walk into the house.
I'm not afraid. Not really. Not more than just a little bit. Cuz I'm a wolf, and wolfs don't get scared. Daddy Blair said so and he's always right. So I'm not scared, I'm just-lonely.
So I wait some more and soon another car comes. It's Papa Oscar and Gran'mama Elena! I bark and wag my tail and drool a bit. I watch as the front door opens again and this time it's Mama Angel, and she's holding Jody's hand. Jody's scared of Papa Oscar, just a little, and Mama Angel always holds his hand when he first sees Papa. And then everything is okay and Jody doesn't remember being scared.
I watch as they hug and Jody is given more pressies to carry. I stretch my neck and wag my tail as they walk by and suddenly Papa Oscar sees me and says, "What's this?"
He settles me on his shoulder and we're the last ones in the door. The house is loud and I hear Jody laughing somewhere. Papa Oscar carries me into the living room and sets me on the top of the couch. He pats my head and I want to lick his hand, but I can't, so I just pretend I did. But then he leaves me and I'm alone again, but this time I'm in the house.
I hear more laughter and a loud, booming voice. Uncle Simon is here! I wag my tail and wiggle in my perch, but I have to wait. Soon though, Jody runs in and he's followed by a whole parade! He sees me sitting on the couch and runs to me, and hugs me tight. Oh, it feels so nice! Daddy Blair comes over and sits on the couch, and Jody and I get to sit on his lap. I love sitting on Daddy Blair's lap. He cuddles us and rocks us and sings to us when no one else is around. I like that best.
Mama Angel sits next to us and everyone sits around us! It's so exciting! I think we get to open pressies now! Uncle Simon is in the chair next to Daddy Blair and us, and when Gamma Nomi gives Jody a pressie, I get to sit in Uncle Simon's lap. Uncle Simon likes to pet me and it tickles. I try not to make noise though.
Once and a while, I pounce over to the couch to see what Jody got and I even yip a little bit in excitement. Everyone laughs and then I sit in Uncle Simon's lap again.
Jody gets lots of pressies. Just when I think there are no more pressies, Uncle Jim gives Jody another one. It jumps on Jody's lap and I can hear little growly noises coming from under the paper. I whimper, just a little, and wonder what it is. Jody stares at it, and squeezes it and pokes at it before finally tearing off the paper. It's a cat! A wild cat, fierce and strong. It's got black fur and green eyes and it growls at me. I creep closer and smell it and feeling brave, I rub up against the kitty just a bit. It purrs and rubs back!
Jody squeals and claps his hands before scooping us both up in his arms. It's a Jody hug and nobody hugs better than Jody.
Mama Angel slides off the couch and bends over to kiss Jody, then me and the kitty. "Be right back," she promises, smiling. I love Mama Angel. She is so beautiful. She smiles a lot, especially at Daddy Blair and Jody, but she smiles at me too, even when no one is looking. She tells me secrets too, as she strokes my fur. About how she is different than other mama's, and shows me her special hand. She tells me to take care of Jody, because sometimes other kids tease him. They say mean things about Mama Angel and Daddy Blair. I've heard them too, but I just growl and chase them and they take it back. Sometimes it makes Jody cry though.
Mama Angel and Daddy Blair went to school with Jody one day, and I got to go too! They talked to the kids about why Daddy Blair can't pick Jody up, but they all laughed and agreed it's just as good to be cuddled in someone's lap. Mama Angel showed the kids her little ear and her special hand and they all thought that was neat. They don't tease Jody any more, but sometimes other kids do. It still hurts his feelings but we just ignore them.
Gran'mama Elena calls us into the dining room and we all rush in to see a great big cake decorated with a truck and it's all lit up with candles! Jody squeals and claps his hands. Soon everyone is singing and Jody is making a wish and then I get to help blow out all the candles.
Jody helps hand out cake to Uncle Rafe and Uncle Henri, but Uncle Artie says he'll just eat Jody's cake. Jody laughs and shakes his head.
"No, no, no," he says. "Eat your cake," he demands, pushing a big piece into Uncle Artie's hands. Uncle Artie leans over and gives Jody a big, wet kiss on the cheek.
"Ewww!" Jody squeals. Uncle Artie just laughs and goes away. Uncle Simon turns his head and looks at us.
"Free kisses?" he asks, coming our way.
"No! No more kissies. Cake!" Jody says, crossing his arms and glaring at Uncle Simon.
Everyone laughs and we all go back to eating the yummy cake. Before we're done, I start to yawn and Jody does too.
"Tired baby?" Suddenly Mama Angel is there and we're being lifted up into her arms. We're too heavy, but she lifts us anyway. Then someone else is holding us and we're going up the stairs. My eyes are closed but I'm not sleeping! I'm much too excited to sleep.
I sigh as I settle on the bed and soon Kitty is there too, purring and snuggling. Then Jody's there and we're all snuggling tightly together. I don't mind when I get kissed three times. I like kissies. Jody pretends he doesn't, but he does too.
I'm not tired, but it's been a long day, so I think I'll just rest my eyes a bit. But . . . I'm not sleep . . ..