TAKE TWO_ Who says you can't ma - Heather M. Orgeron Page 0,20
say she looks less than thrilled would be an understatement. We’ve been volunteering once a month at the animal shelter for a few years now. Nya and I are both really firm believers in giving back to the community, and Ellie usually doesn’t mind it much. “My present is work?”
“Not exactly.” I unfasten my seatbelt then jerk my head toward the entrance. “Come on.”
“Ellie! Liam!” Rick, the manager, greets us both with a nod. “I’ve been expecting you.” He gives me a one-armed hug and pats El on top of the head. Then the short husky man ushers us toward the back. “Right this way.”
“What are we doing here?” my daughter grumbles beside me when she recognizes the room he’s leading us toward. Her elbow wedges into my side. “Dad, I don’t want to spend my Friday night cleaning puppy kennels.” Her whispered complaint is low enough so only I can hear it… at least, I hope.
It’s been four weeks since we last visited, and that long since Ellie has seen the litter of pups that were barely opening their eyes at the time.
“Are these the babies?” she asks when eight terrier mix puppies surround her, their whole bottom halves wagging as they attempt to climb up her legs. “The ones we got to bottle feed last time?”
“The very same. It’s crazy how fast they grow up, right?” Rick reaches down, grabbing the runt and holding her to his chest. She’s got a wiry, salt and pepper coat and is about half the size of her brothers and sisters. “I promised your dad pick of the litter. It’s your choice, of course, but I’ve personally taken a liking to little Mighty Mouse, here.”
“Oh my gosh,” Ellie coos, taking the pup from his hands. “She’s so tiny.”
“Vet estimates she won’t get bigger than five or six pounds. She’s already starting to paper train and has the sweetest disposition.”
“I really get to keep one?” When that little girl looks at me like I hung the damn moon, I know whatever hell Nya raises when we get home this evening will one hundred percent be worth it.
“Happy Birthday, Squirt.” With the puppy clutched to her chest in one arm, she wraps the other around my waist.
“Thank you so much, Daddy. You’re the best!”
“What are you gonna name her?”
“I don’t know.” She giggles while Mighty Mouse nips at her nose. “Midge, maybe?” She makes a smoochy noise at her new pet, and I can’t help but cringe when she allows the dog to lick her on the mouth. “Short for midget?”
“You know that thing licks its own ass with that tongue, right?”
“What on earth is that?” Nya’s eyes bug out of her head when Ellie and I return home with the new family member, along with bags of food, toys, and supplies from the pet store. “Is—is that a rat?”
“Told you she’d freak out.” El holds the pup tighter. “It’s a puppy, not a rat. Dad got her for me for my birthday, but she just got big enough to come home. She was going to live at his place, but well… Dad lives here now so… she kind of has to, too.”
“You both know how I feel about animals in the house. We are not keeping—”
Before she can finish her sentence, Ellie is in tears. My girl can turn the waterworks on and off like a pro. We may have a future actress in our hands. “But the vet said she’s gonna stay tiny and she’s really smart and practically potty trained already.”
Nya cuts me with a stare, shaking her head. “I’m not cleaning up after that thing,” she finally says sighing in defeat.
“It’s a deal. I promise, I’ll take care of her.” Ellie places her hand over her heart. “You won’t even know she’s here.”
“I’ll help.”
“And as for you—” The angry woman darts a finger between my eyes. “You will personally replace anything it destroys.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I give her a Boy Scout salute, causing her to roll her eyes.
“Did you hear that, Midgy?” Ellie coos. “Mom said you get to stay.”
“Wait…what did you name her?”
“Midge. It’s short for Midget.”
Nya’s lip curls as she huffs her disapproval but says nothing more about it. “Set that crate up in your room. I don’t want to smell it.”
“She’s a schnauzer mix. They’re hypoallergenic, don’t shed, and shouldn’t smell as long as we get her groomed regularly.” I’m quick to defend the pup. It’s something I’ve been promising my little girl for a very long time,