Kirby came to live with the Bealles when he was three years old. Before that he had lived on the streets – sleeping where he could and eating what he could find – mostly from garbage cans. He got into lots of fights with other dogs and even with cats. He was frequently chased so was always checking for possible danger.
But as I said, that was before he came to live with the Bealles who adopted him. He is part of their family now and feels safe and happy. The Bealle family is Mr. and Mrs. Bealle, known as Dad and Mom, two children, Hailey and Sam, and another dog Max, now older, who gets to lay on a mat near the fireplace. Since Kirby came Max seems to sleep a lot so he gets very little attention anymore.
Kirby, much younger, is always active and busy. He loves to run and play with Sam and Hailey whenever they are not in school or doing homework. When no one is around to play with him, Kirby searches for treasures. These are things he thinks he can use now or sometime in the future; like a bone or a ball of string. They are also things he thinks are curious; a rusty wrench, some sea shells. He hides his treasures in the house and garden. He knows he doesn’t need to hide things now but somehow it makes him feel good.
Sometimes too, Kirby eats things that aren’t food – like paper, or a rubber band or a tissue. He gets scolded for this if he is seen. Mom says it is dangerous. Now when anything is missing everyone looks at Kirby and tries to figure out whether he ate it or hid it. They follow him around checking. He gets a lot of attention.
When Hailey’s socks start disappearing she begins a search. She looks under the stairs, in a hollow tree stump in the garden, in the basement behind an old toy box, and in Dad’s golf club bag. No luck. “Do you think Kirby is eating my socks?” she asks Sam. He just shrugs his shoulders. “Who can guess what Kirby might do,” he says.
Several weeks pass and the situation is getting really bad. “Mom,” says Hailey, “I am running out of socks that match. Yesterday I had to wear two different color socks to school.” “You should put your socks away in the drawer after they are washed. I will try to watch Kirby when you are at school,” says Mom. This plan seems to work. No more socks disappear. But where the missing socks have gone remains a mystery.
When spring break comes Mom and Dad say as a treat they will go on vacation to the beach. They decide Kirby can come, but they will leave Max home. He doesn’t like the sand or heat and besides he is getting so old he doesn’t seem to want to move at all. The next door neighbor will feed Max and check on him every day.
The vacation is wonderful. Everyone enjoys it and they come back happy and refreshed. Max is still on his mat by the fireplace. He doesn’t even get up to greet them. He is getting very old Mom thinks. She goes over to pat him on the head and suddenly Max snaps at her hand. Shocked she pulls her hand away. What could be wrong? Maybe he is sick. “I will take him to the vet tomorrow,” Mom says. The next day when she tries to get Max to move, he just refuses and snaps at her again.
“He must be in pain,” Dad says. With Sam’s help, offering Max his favorite treat, Dad manages to get a harness on him. They pull and lift him up and take him to the vet. The vet can find nothing wrong. He can’t explain Max’s refusal to move or his snapping at Mom.
Hailey is at the door when Mom, Dad and Max get home. She is all smiles. “I found my socks,” she says. “They were under Max’s mat. He was the one stealing them.” “Why would he do that?” asks Sam. “Of course, now I understand,” says Mom. “When Kirby takes something he gets lots of attention. We have been ignoring Max. He feels lonely and forgotten especially by Hailey. She used to fuss over him and play with him all the time. He began stealing Hailey’s socks to get her attention again.”
“Oh Max, I am so sorry,” says Hailey hugging and kissing him. “I really love you. I love Kirby too but you are my first dog. No one can replace you.” Then they all pat Max. And from then on whenever Hailey and Sam go out to play they include Max in their games. He may not be able to run as fast as Kirby but he can still catch and makes a great goalie. And Max is teaching Kirby his special tricks so they have become the best of friends too.
Copyright©2019 Linda J. Himot
Comments