By Claudia Adams
T’was Christmas morning and I was headed down Cordelia Road when I passed a mature black lab on a mission to who knows where! But, whoa, something was amiss! The dog was traveling solo and I had to make a decision. What was more important: four-legged creature or getting to Ralphs’s before it closed for Christmas?
Needless-to-say, I told the little voice in my head (aka The Grinch) to “stuff it” and turned around! I called the dog but she was having none of me. (Note to readers: Always have a Plan B.) I drove a few houses further ahead, stopped and opened my passenger door…. Then I jumped back in the car and whistled for her.
Yes, Virginia, there is the Magic of Christmas! She jumped right in! But wait! No tags! We had no choice but to be guided by the Christmas star! We STARted knocking on doors. “Nope.” “Not ours.” “Doesn’t look familiar.” There was a wonderful offer from a neighbor to try and help…offers to hold her, walk her, check Nextdoor but no luck. I was thankful for their offers, but still, no owner.
We trekked up to the fire road. “Nope.” “Nobody lost a dog.” I was about to give up hope when my little doggie aka “Sugar Plum Fairy” (I couldn’t resist naming her.) asked me (she spoke with her eyes) to drive around because she was sure her owners would be looking for her. Nope. Nada. Nothing. No one, nowhere… missed her. (Of course I didn’t tell her that! I told her we were getting “warmer.” )
Alas, up ahead! A human on a skateboard! Perhaps he could be of assistance. “Yes, we have a black lab but she’s in the house.” At which time, his father just happened to come out and repeated “Yes, we have a black lab but she’s in the house.” I asked them to just take a look at little black lab (aka Sugar Plum Fairy) in my car…just in case they knew the owner. (I feel a happy ending coming, here!)
“SITKA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THAT CAR?” The family had driven with their dog from another state and were visiting their parents! No one had realized the dog had gotten out! She hadn’t been missed yet! Which left her out in the cold. I made them promise to get her a tag for Christmas before I would give Ms. Sugar Plum Fairy back. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. The End. Yay! Happy Ending!
