I got a puppy for Christmas. I didn’t ask for one. I didn’t want one. But I got one anyway. I didn’t want a puppy because my dog, Champ, had died a couple of months earlier. Champ was the best dog in the world. He was sweet, obedient, and calm. He even saved me from falling down the stairs when I was little. I loved Champ so much, so I was devastated when he died. I missed him a lot. I don’t know who gave my parents the idea that to make someone feel better about a dog that died you get them another dog. But whoever it was they were wrong. I know they were trying to be nice, but I didn’t want a dog. This puppy, the one I didn’t want, was the complete opposite of Champ. She barked at anyone she saw, didn’t listen, and wanted to play every second of the day. The puppy was named Cassie. Out of all the names in the world my mom picked Cassie. Whenever I heard her name I thought of Champ because they both start with C. To make matters worse Cassie was a purebred beagle just like Champ. They both had the same floppy ears, that goofy doggy grin, and those dark brown eyes. Just looking at her made me want to cry, so I didn’t look at her. I just ignored her, but she still followed me around making me trip over her every five seconds. I locked her out of my room, and made my mom and dad take care of her. They thought I was just being lazy and that I loved Cassie anyway. They were wrong. I didn’t want her.

That all changed one winter day.

It was our first day back to school after winter break. The bell had just rung. Everyone was in high spirits because it had just started to snow. My mom was late picking me up so I decided to walk home. It takes me about 20 minutes to walk home. I usually complain about having to walk home but today I didn’t care. It was snowing and our teacher decided to give us no homework! While I was walking home the snow started to get heavier and heavier. Soon the snow had turned from light snowflakes to a snow storm! I kept walking, pushing through the snow, barely able to see. I realized I was walking in circles when I bumped my head twice in 5 minutes on the big oak tree where someone had carved S AND J  FOREVER. I was lost in the snow. I sat down, not knowing anything else to do. I was freezing. Everyone else was probably inside in front of the fireplace keeping warm. No one was outside to rescue me.  I was sitting there, feeling sorry for myself, when I heard barking.

“What?” I thought, “I must be hallucinating.”

Then I heard yelling and screaming and I knew it was real. When I looked ahead I saw Cassie bounding through the snow towards me. Later, my mom said Cassie ran out the door when Mom opened it to take out the garbage. My mom followed and Cassie led her to me. When I saw Cassie, I felt like my heart was about to burst. She came even though I treated her so badly. When she got to me, she put her paws on my knees and started licking my face. My mom was close behind but I was only paying attention to Cassie.

“Good dog,” I said through the waterfall of tears, “Good dog, good dog!”

My mom called my dad to come and pick us up. On the ride home I realized how lucky I was to have Cassie. I love her a lot. Now she sleeps on my bed every night and is always there for me. She may not be Champ but I love her just as much.