text: I wrote this because my in-law's dog is getting older and I was feeling a little sad about it. Let me know what you all think. &#x200B; &#x200B; &#x200B; I am new. My eyes will not open. It feels warm as mama covers me. Her fur feels like a warm Blanket. That’s how I’ll remember it when I learn what a Blanket is. I *think* I am a good boy. My brothers and sisters are packed in tight around me. They smell like home. They feel a lot like mama. They are making noises. Its loud. I soon realize that I’m making the same noises. Something in me aches. It ends up being my tummy. Oh, I was hungry. Thanks mama. Time passes. I struggle and struggle. Eventually, my eyes *do* open. What a remarkable world! Mama is the most beautiful thing in it. I meet Blanket for the first time. It’s warm, just like mama. One day, a tall and beautiful creature enters. It towers over even mama! It doesn’t have fur all over its body. Instead, it just has fur on its head. Its head fur is really long. It stands on two legs instead of laying or sitting on all four. It’s silly. The tall and beautiful creature comes to me. It speaks in words that I cannot understand. I am taken from mama. I’m sad. Blanket comes with me though, so I know I’ll be okay. I say goodbye to my brothers and sisters as we leave the only room I’ve ever been in. I find out that the tall creature is my new mama. She’s pretty, but different from mama. She rubs my ears and though I do not understand her words, I know she is telling me that I am a good boy. I like this. I meet my new mama’s children. They are adorable. They’re bigger than me, but they somehow feel smaller. Instinctively, I know that I will protect them. They are my new brothers and sisters. As time passes, I grow quickly. Before too long, new mama must hold me with two hands. It still feels good when she strokes my nose. My new brothers and sisters haven’t quite figured out how to pet me like mama does. I am a good boy. New mama and my new brothers and sisters put down hard blankets. For some reason, they become angry when I need to relieve myself even though they do it all the time in the house. They even have this big magic water drinking bowl. No sharing with me though. They call me “Jake.” That must be my name. I am a good boy. New mama slowly becomes just mama. I still have Blanket. Old mama is still the most beautiful thing in the world, but I don’t remember exactly what she looked like. Sometimes, when I smell Blanket, I remember a little bit better. I find out about ALL the wonderful things in the world like “treat,” “fetch,” and “walk.” I love them. I also figure out that mama and my siblings won’t be as mad if I relieve myself outside. I want them to be happy. When I need to go, I just give them a shout. They don’t understand my words because they still don’t speak my language. They’re silly. It seems that they get the point, because they start to let me out when I ask. Time passes again. I’m fully grown and so energetic. I thought I would be a lot bigger, but mama can still pick me up. She takes me to another place where I get stuck with needles. It’s awful. She makes me go back sometimes for some reason. I can never tell if we are about to go on an adventure or go back to the needle man. I get more and more walks. Lots of petting too. I love my home. I lay quietly in my snug little bed next to Blanket. A new adversary has appeared. She is white and fluffy. Looks like a treat to me. When I start to treat the new adversary like a treat, mama scolds me. She spanks me for the first time. I didn’t even do anything. I guess I have to be nice to fluffball. The adversary and I vie for mama’s attentions. It turns out that mama has enough attention for both of us. The adversary grows larger. I find out that her name is Princess. We become friends of necessity. She tries to sit on Blanket. We are not friends that day. She never quite reaches my size, but her place in my heart continues to grow. I’m not so young anymore. I still get excited to go on a walk, but it doesn’t excite me like it once did. My siblings are so big now, almost as large as mama. They are my home. Some of them are nearly as good at fetch as mama. The youngest boy is always a good begging target. All it takes a single whine and he drops at least something. It is a beautiful summer day. I can tell that its summer because it feels nice and warm. I get to go outside without having to ask twice. Summer is my favorite time of year. Sometimes it does get a little warm though. My siblings occasionally give me the honor of laying in their laps. It’s harder to keep up with mama than it used to be. My siblings begin to leave. Over time they return, sometimes with partners. I have never had a partner. Sometimes, this makes me sad, but mostly, I am happy. I’ve had mama. She’s never changed. The years have passed, but mama is the same. She is my fondest protector and the one who I also protect. I don’t move so well anymore. My days of fetch are behind me. Still, I have my companions, Blanket and Princess. At times, it’s like they’ve always been with me. On occasion, I walk into a wall. Mama always has a concerned expression on her face when this happens. We visit the needle man more often now, but curiously, he has almost become a companion in his own right. An especially beautiful and sunny day comes and goes. Today was not such a good day. I re-live days as a pup when I did not know what to say to get to go outside. It means that sometimes, I must relieve myself inside the house. Shame. Mama never scolds me for this anymore. I remember when I could not open my eyes. Now, the other side of aging closes them. I look into mama’s beautiful face one final time. Old mama is a faint memory now. I sit, cuddled with Blanket. Princess nudges me, letting out a purr. I wish my siblings were here, but all is well. As I let out my final breath, I know one thing for sure: I was a good boy.