| |
EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, Cannon carried Arroo to Vic’s bed. “Something’s wrong with Arroo. His tummy is lumpy. He’s not going to die, is he?
Vic took hold of the puppy and studied it, then kissed its head. “No, your pup is healthy. Only your pup is a she, and she will be having puppies soon.”
“No! Arroo is a boy dog.”
“Nature says Arroo is a girl dog.”
“I don’t want a girl dog. I want Arroo to turn back into a boy dog.”
“Sweetheart, Arroo has never been a boy dog. But she’ll still love you. I promise.”
“No! I want her to become a boy dog again like she used to be.”
“Well, first, she will need to birth the little puppies inside her. Then after she weens the pups, she can return to her normal self.”
“Will she only have girl babies, or will there be boy babies?”
“There will probably be both.”
“Then I could get a boy pup.”
“You can, but you cannot stop loving Arroo. That would be like you not loving me just because sometimes I dress like a girl.”
“I see. Will we have to get dresses for Arroo?”
“No, sweetheart. She’ll be the same fabulous dog that you have always loved.”
“You promise?” Cannon asked.
“Arroo is your best friend for life, Cannon. Nothing will change that.”
“All right then. We can work through this.”
Vic hugged her son. “That’s a very good attitude.”
Cannon sighed. “Maybe Arroo will be happier in here with you and Daddy. The younger children might accidentally hurt the puppies.”
Vic studied her son. “Did something happen?” she asked.
“I don’t know for certain, but Arroo is now hiding from Maddy.”
“Thank you for letting me know. We’ll keep Arroo up here until she has her babies.”
“How many babies will she have?”
“I have no idea. We’ll just have to wait and find out.”
“But what if she has too many?”
“Then we’ll offer them to other people once you get them trained.”
“I have to train them?” Cannon pouted.
“You don’t have to. I just thought you would like to.”
Cannon huffed. “Arroo didn’t need training. Why will these puppies need training?”
“Well, first of all, I trained Arroo, and it takes a lot of time, but it’s also great fun. But if you are not up to training your puppy, maybe Pete will have time to train his puppy and yours.”
“Pete doesn’t like his dog.”
Vic laughed recalling the obnoxious screecher Pete used to have. “Pete gave that dog back to its original owner. So, Pete has already requested a puppy from this litter.”
“I get my choice first!” Cannon demanded.
“You have Arroo, which may be the finest dog in the world. So, allow Pete, who you like a great deal, to have first choice. It will mean so much to him.”
Cannon pouted and sighed, then agreed Pete could have his choice as long as he didn’t want Arroo.
“Arroo will always be your dog.”
“Then Pete can have first choice. But I get second choice!” Cannon insisted.
“I’m certain any pup of Arroo’s will be a fine pup to love.”
She kissed her son’s head and sent him downstairs as she fixed Arroo with an old blanket in the corner of the bathing room. She knelt and petted the dog. “If you need anything, just bark and let me know. I expect you’ll be birthing those pups very soon. Would you like me to stay and help, or would you like to do this by yourself? Bark once for ‘yes’ or twice for ‘no.’”
Arroo barked twice, so Vic kissed her forehead and left the room.