I hesitantly opened the gate and looked behind my shoulder to see that my sister had already left me.Figures, I thought as I approached Darren, who nodded for me to sit beside him.
His forehead scrunched up in concern.“Is your sister ditching you on your birthday?”
I sighed and sat down.It wasn’t uncommon for my sister to ditch me for her friends or boys she was interested in.She refused to let me into her personal life the older she got.I was getting tired of it.I didn’t understand what was so wrong with me that she avoided me at all costs.
The puppies leapt into my lap.One puppy with a black spot on the top of its head kept falling over, and the other pups would trample over it.
I turned toward him.“What is wrong with that one?”
Darren scooped up the pup in one hand.“This is the litter’s runt.She is the smallest and won’t fight the other dogs for food or attention.They are a border collie mix of some sort.We did not realize that our dog, Sassy, got pregnant before we moved here, hence these little guys.Sadly, Sassy didn’t make it through giving birth, though.At least that is what my dad said.”Darren wiped a tear away from his face.
Growing up without a parent sounded awful.I worried about the dog’s well-being.I also didn’t like seeing the boy so upset.
I leaned forward to pet the tiny dog when Darren set it in my lap.The pup looked up at me with her vast, glossy eyes, and I fell in love.The dog slowly licked and tickled my hand with her soft, pink, wiggly tongue.
“No one wants the runt.You can take her for free if you want.My dad wants the puppies gone as soon as possible.Maybe you could bring her around here so I could visit her too,” Darren explained.
What kind of person could give up such an adorable creature so easily?I stared at him in disbelief.
“You know, I don’t see why people don’t like the runt.There is nothing wrong with being quiet and keeping to yourself,” he said.
I clenched the pup close to my chest.“What should I name this little gal, then?”I knew I could take the puppy because my momma and stepdad had talked about getting a dog for a long time, and once they saw her face, they wouldn’t be able to resist taking her in.I also related to the poor dog; she was the smallest and was easy to forget.
He laughed.“That’s up to you.”
I set the pup down, and her legs wobbled from side to side.“I don’t know.She looks like a deer who was just born and has no idea how to walk,” I said, giggling.
Darren looked at her.“I guess we have to call you Fawn then.”
His tennis shoes skipped into his compact house.He came out with a yellow collar and a rope.He connected the collar around her petite neck and tied the rope to the collar.He tugged on it to ensure it was secure and handed me the other end of the makeshift leash.“Happy Birthday.Take care of Fawn for me, and swing by any time.”Darren beamed.
My face lit up with a smirk.“You know I will.”
****
When I walked the puppyback to the cabin, she pulled the leash too tightly, got too close to my heels, and fell over.I ended up carrying her down the street in my arms.She wasn’t used to walking on a leash and would need to be thoroughly trained.I put the tiny pup under my shirt when I entered the living room.Her warm fur brushed against my stomach.My grandma, stepdad, and mother were lounging on the couch.
Their eyes darted to me when I said, “Hey.Breanna ditched me, so I came back.You know how we were talking about getting a dog sometime?”
“Seriously, she left you again? I’m sorry.What about a dog?”James asked.
“Well...”I stalled.
“Get to the point, Penny.”
I figured my words would not be enough, so I pulled the tiny pup out from under my shirt.Her little tail wagged when she saw my family.She pawed at her face, causing all of them to say, “Awe!”in unison.
“I’m sorry about your sister.I don’t know what to do with that girl.But where did you get this dog?It doesn’t have any flees, does it?”Momma asked.
“I got it from the new preacher’s house.The boy there said it was the runt, and they had to get rid of it.Can we keep her?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Sweetie,” my momma said, touching Fawn’s fur.
“Please!”I begged.
“Those are the Lawrences, right?The ladies and I investigated them, and they seemed like a fine family—religious, proper, and good neighbors.I’ve heard they keep a clean house, so I wouldn’t be worried about fleas or pests.They mostly have girls, but their boys are quite handsome,” Grandma Hartley said.
“It is her birthday,” James said, shooting his eyebrows at Momma.
