Mrs Red

Mrs Red

By: Steven Dean

When I was seven years old, my mom got me my first dog. She was a Pomeranian/ Poodle mix and couldn’t have weighed much more than 10 pounds, if she even weighed that much. Her red hair and pointed snout made her look almost like a fox. The mix of breeds also made her hair not look as puffy as Pomeranians’ normally do, but more like the long smooth hair of a fox. I loved her immediately and we became inseparable. I named her Mrs. Red.

One of my favorite days with her started off as usual, waking up together. Even though I was in the top bunk, she still slept in my bed, not fearing the height, but just happy to be together. The warmth of her body and her rhythmic breathing was a comfort. Every once in a while, she would move her legs in her sleep and her nails would lightly tickle my arm. She was the teddy bear, I never had, and much better.

That morning, I could smell that my mom had made bacon. I loved bacon. Carrying Mrs. Red down the ladder, as she attempted to lick my face, made me chuckle. I put her down and we headed toward the wonderful fragrance of bacon. Apparently, I had beat my sisters to breakfast, and it was just my mom, Mrs. Red, and I. My mom served me a plate with two eggs and five pieces of bacon. Mrs. Red was curled up between my legs under the table and whenever my mom looked away, I would feed her a piece of bacon. I feed her three pieces and ate two with my eggs. Then asked for more bacon. Mom smiled at me and gave me three more pieces, I thought I was sneaky, but I believe now that she knew I was feeding Mrs. Red too.

After breakfast, I took Mrs. Red on a walk. Never did I have to use a leash, she always stayed with me. We went down the block and around the corner, into the woods. After walking in the shade of trees for a while, we came to a clearing. A small circular area that was just grass. Sunlight highlighted this area and made it warmer. I laid down in the grass and Mrs. Red cuddled up beside me. The heat of the sun on my skin and the fuzzy warmness of Mrs. Red beside me was perfect. A slight breeze was blowing, but most of it was blocked by the surrounding trees. Distant bird calls and slight rustling sounds were present, but not close enough to disturb us. Peaceful laziness overcame us both and time seemed to melt away. The moment wasn’t hurried or slow, but moving along at its own natural pace. Not sure how long we stayed there, but I think I drifted off for a while.

Once this nice interlude was over, we got back up and made our way out of the woods. Noises here and there seemed to attract Mrs. Red’s attention and her ears would perk up. I felt a little nervous and wondered whether she might take off after something. She kept pace with me, though, and we made it back out. A little ways off in a grassy area in front of us, a rabbit was nibbling on something. Mrs. Red noticed and began to growl. I kneed down, ready to grab her, in case she started to bolt. She continued to growl for a while, drawing the rabbit’s notice, causing it to dart away. The growl grew slowly dimmer and faded away. Mrs. Red returned to my side and we continued on our way.

Crossing the street, no cars in sight, we neared the turn home. Gravel on the shoulder of the road crunched under my feet. I passed an area where my friend, Damon, and I had made little roads in the gravel for our hot wheels. An interesting miniature area of roads, hills, ramps, and parking lots used in the adventures of our minds.

As we approached the house, I could hear my older sister, Jennifer, playing with her friends in the front yard. A car was also headed toward us, so I picked up Mrs. Red and carried her the rest of the way. I never risked her safety with cars present. Jennifer and her friends began to tease me for carrying my dog and thought it funny to slap at me. Mrs. Red grew angry, protective of me, and snapped at them each time they slapped at me. She also began to growl, actually barring her teeth, which I’d rarely seen her do. My chest swelled with pride that Mrs. Red was so protective of me. Then the thought that she may actually bite someone and get in trouble, worried me, so I ignored them and headed into the house.

I was assaulted by Air Supply and ABBA playing loudly inside; two of my mom’s favorites at the time. When she saw me, she turned the music down some, smiling. “Come here. I have a surprise for you, for both of you, “ She said. I followed her to the back of the house, where her room was. On her bed was a shopping bag and she pulled something red out of it. “It’s a little early, but it’s so cute.” In my mom’s hand was a little mini santa claus hat. At my puzzled expression, she laughed, “For Mrs. Red.”

I sat on the bed and it took a couple tries before Mrs. Red would let me put the hat on her. Once she did, I loved how cute she looked in it. My mom grabbed the camera and took a picture of us. Thus, ended one of my happiest memories with my first and still favorite canine companion, Mrs. Red.