Ole' PETEY and I - Part 3

Dogs are our

Teachers.

Until you get that,

You just don't

Get it.

One time, it was a bad day.

My parents had been fighting.

Pop had been gettin his drink on

And just bickering

And shit.

And my older brother could be a bully

And he was hurting my feelings

And between it all, at only 8

I was at the end of my rope.

I went out to the yard

Where Petey greeted me so sweet

But I was a bitch

And I pushed him away.

It killed me to do it

But I remember feeling like - HEY -

I'm expected to keep loving

So YOU, Petey - YOU LOVE ME TOO…

EVEN WHEN I DO WRONG BY YOU.

But it killed me.

At the same time, Kris saw me pushing Petey away

She was watching from inside her window

And she came rushing out and hugged Petey, and said:

"Listen, girl.  No matter how people treat you…

Nothing gives you the right to treat others that same, hurtful way."

Oh, I was so ashamed.

And I could barely look at Ole' Petey, my friend, whom I had mis-used.

I could barely look at Kris, but I did, shy and small

And I said: "I'll never do it again.  I love him so.  I was wrong."

Dogs are our

Teachers.

To be continued.