The purchasing of Gus
Many years ago when Dave and I were newly married and my
tears could still sway him, Kadie and I
used to go to work with him on weekend days. If we didn’t we would never see
him. There really isn’t much to do when your husband’s setting up a driveway or
a patio to pour concrete. Unless of course you actually want to help. I must be
honest when I say that I didn’t want to help. What I liked to do was watch Dave
work. Nothing any better than watching a
good looking man hard at work when that man is yours.
Kadie would bring her Barbie dolls and her beanie babies and
what-ever else she could fit in her bag but she was only 6 and let’s face it
she got bored rather easily.
This one Sunday she was bored and I was getting frustrated
with her because nothing I did could keep her entertained. It was steaming out
and we were directly in the scorching, hot, Florida sun. The people my husband
was working for told us about a pet store a few blocks away. I thought BINGO
this should keep us busy for awhile.
Little did I know that this day was going to be my and
Dave’s first standoff with each other as a married couple.
Kadie and I grabbed our bottles of water and headed out to
walk to the pet store. Or should I say puppy mill. When we walked into the
store there were at least a hundred puppies all in kiddie wading pools.
Probably eight to ten puppies per each pool. We wondered around for a long time
admiring all of the cute wiggly puppies. All the while I had to keep telling
Kadie no, we couldn’t get another dog. We already had a boxer and two cats that
Dave was highly allergic to. When suddenly in one of the pools was the most beautifully
ugly boxer puppy that I had ever seen.
He was chunky with a big tummy that begged to be rubbed. His liquid
brown eyes would look at you and then roll in opposite directions and you could
never (for his entire life) figure out exactly where he was looking. He also
had thick green snot pouring from his nose and he smelled of something sour and
rotten. Kadie and I were in love.
About that same time Dave strolls in and Kadie runs to him,
grabs his hand and drags him to where I’m standing holding this precious bundle
of smelly love. Dave wasn’t so smitten. While he assured us that yes the puppy
was a nice puppy, we couldn’t afford one and further more this puppy was sick.
He then told us he was almost finished and we should go back with him to help
clean up so we could go home.
I have no idea what possessed me but I made a split second
decision. I was going to act like a spoiled brat that wasn’t getting her way.
(I didn’t see it like that at the time but I’ve had 19 years to think about
it.) I grabbed Kadie’s hand and I said we aren’t leaving here without this dog.
Dave shrugged his shoulders did an about face and walked out of the pet store.
I smiled at Kadie and the bewildered look on her face and I said he’ll be back
and this dog will be ours.
It was two hours before he finally came back and I was quite
relieved because I was honestly starting to think he left us.
I must tell you he
wasn’t impressed with me but I wouldn’t give in. He would say we don’t need
another dog and I would respond with, I want this puppy. He would say this dog
cost $500.00 and I would say there are 550.00 dollars in the bank. He would say I’m tired, it’s been a long day
let’s go home and we’ll save for a puppy. I would stand and glare at him. He
then pulled me aside from Kadie and let me know in no uncertain terms that I
was acting like a brat and it was time to leave. I did the only thing I could
do. I turned and gave Kadie a look, walked back over to her and we let the
waterworks fly.
We named him Gus on the ride home.
