Our New Pet

My kids have been saving up for a Chihuahua. They would also accept a Great Dane or any type of dog in between.

After pooling the money they've collected from the Tooth Fairy and pilfered from my purse, they have a whopping $43.00.

"This is definitely enough for something at the animal shelter," my daughter said to me this morning, fanning a wad of dollar bills across the kitchen table.

We are frequent fliers at all of the animal rescue centers in town. Petsmart= petting zoo.

"I can barely take care of the living things already in this house," I replied. "We can't get a dog right now."

Cortlen threw himself off the sofa when he heard the bad news. Kellen took the setback in stride. He chucked a library book at the wall and won a free trip to time out.

Just as I was tuning my violin in preparation for the pity party, a furry beast bounded across my deck and jumped onto a patio chair.

"A gift from the gods!" I shouted to my offspring. "Come look!"

My children stopped hating me long enough to look out the window.

"That's a squirrel," my daughter said flatly.

"It's your new pet!" I corrected.

Kellen liked my idea so much that he threw another book.

All was not in vain. After a half hour or so, my children warmed up to the idea of claiming ownership of all of the wild animals in our subdivision.

"Let's call him Squirrely," chirped Cortlen.

It's my sincerest hope that my son didn't have to dig too deep to come up with that name.

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Super cool! A couple weeks back, the super smart ladies at Segullah and I had a little chat. You can read the interview HERE.