Puppies
Shirley Harrell's grandparents
lived next door to us and for a while Shirley’s family
lived with them. Then they moved across town and lived in
an upstairs apartment with Miss Lue Jones. Shirley nor I
had any brothers or sisters. and we had become very close,
like brother and sister.
One day, Shirley’s parents wanted her to come to her
grandparents but had no immediate way to bring her there.
It was a good distance from their apartment but in walking
distance. My parents gave me more liberty than Shirley had
in going all over town. Maybe this was because I was a boy.
I was only six and Shirley was only a few months younger
than I. Shirley’s parents asked if I could come across town
and walk back with her. It was about midmorning when I
walked over to Shirley’s apartment. It was in the spring of
the year and still a little nippy. We each wore light coats
and Shirley wore a bright red cap with a tie that tied
under her chin. She was all giggly anticipating a visit
with her grandparents. She actually was skipping as we left
to go across town.
Down the street a ways we passed the Dickson home. Mr.
Lester Dickson was a lawyer and owned a nice big house.
Mrs. Dickson was out on her porch and hollered for us to
wait a minute, that she had something to show us. We walked
up to the house and she took us around the side of the
house to a box with four tiny puppies. Shirley was jubilant
and asked to hold one. Mrs. Dickson said they needed a good
home and asked if we would like one. Shirley and I walked
away, each with a puppy. I think I knew that I should have
asked my parents before taking one, but Shirley was getting
one and I didn’t want her to have one if I didn’t.
When we finally reached Shirley’s grandparents. I waited to
see how they were going to react to her having a puppy.
Shirley’s grandmother threw a fit. She said that woman knew
better than give puppies to small children just to get rid
of them. I guess it was good that there was no telephone
for her grandmother would have given Mrs. Dickson a piece
of her mind. We were directed to take the puppies back, so
we walked back across town and gave the puppies back to
Mrs. Dickson. Shirley did the talking. She was good at
that. Mrs. Dickson didn’t seem surprised that we had
brought them back.
One good thing, I was relieved of having to get the
reaction of my parents. I knew how they would act after
seeing the reaction of Shirley’s grandmother. And besides,
I would not have enjoyed having a puppy as much if Shirley
didn’t have one.