The Ghost and her Pal

Ever had a best friend? Not the ones you make but the kind that brings a family together? This German Shepherd and Lab Mix changed our lives forever. Gretchen was the first dog we had, then Stitch. They grew up together. Gretchen raised Stitch. But not only Stitch, but all of us. My family had never had such amazing dogs in our life. Gretchen was the best thing that happened to us because she chose us. She was a runt and not wanted for she wouldn't make a "scary dog". She was rescued in a flash flood. We went to the dog place, it was scorching hot and sweat dripped from our faces like rain. Then the side door to the Ford van we had slid open and a small puppy jumped on my lap and licked the sweat from my face. I was scared at first but when I looked Gretchen in the eyes I knew she would be a big part of not only my life but my entire family's life. A few years later we got Stitch, he was a fat lil' pup that could barely walk. What I hated most about him was he would drag us by our hair around the house. We moved to a big country farm house and it gave Gretchen and Stitch the room they needed to play, run around or jut sit under Big Bertha! Big Bertha was a tree we named, she was the biggest tree around our little area. Gretchen was Stitch's mom he never had, because he to was given up for being a runt of the family. He is no runt anymore, he takes up half of the couch. Not in fat way, but he is big and fruppy. Gretchen rarely came inside, she was out chasing one of us babies, or a squirrel she thought was going to hurt us. She and Stitch were busy protectors but still had time for their family. 

Gretchen and Stitch had developed a new "thing". They like chasing cars while biting the tires. Strange right? They were always together. Gretchen would watch over Stitch like one of her own. She could never have any puppies because she was spade and she had hip problems. It would be nice to have baby Gretchen's running around the house but it would've killed her. I would rather have her alive then dead. 

Eight years fly by and we decided to move. We moved to the South. We sorta liked the south but never actually fit in for we were Northerners and Asian. Gretchen and Stitch didn't have the room to run, jump and play like they did. So they being dumb, played in the roads, but avoided them for they didn't want to be hit. But after 2 years of living here, tragedy stuck my family. January 6, 2013, Gretchen was taken away from us. She was purposely hit and she died 10 minutes after we got her into the car. She was cremated, leaving only her stench and the memories. She left us so sudden, we couldn't say the right words to her. The words that when she heard them she would smile. The last words I said to her before my mom and dad sped to the vet was, "I love you baby girl" and she looked at me and sighed heavily like she understood and was saying it back. 

 

We awaited by the phone and waited. I called by brother who was 2 states away and told him the bad news. I cried and cried and when my parents got home, I knew she hadn't survived. They told me to get my shoes on and we will go see her one last time. I had calmed down by this time but when I saw her I broke down. Screaming "WAKE UP!" but she never did. I hugged her one last time and she was dead weight. I stared into her eyes and whispered "I love you". I stayed there while she was being cremated, hoping she would jump up before they closed the doors and turned on the oven. I hated the thought maybe God would give her a second chance but he didn't he took her away and I never got to say the right words. Or even give her the last smile of happiness that she brought on me and my family. 

Gretchen still remains somehow and only the people who choose to believe it they can feel her. Feel her laying at your feet, feel her push her head under your hand for you to pet, feel her to jump on your lap and squash you to death. You can still smell her here and find bunches of her hair. But Stitch wont eat out of the dog food bin for she was the last one to eat out of it . He is trying to preserve her like I am. 

Stitch only has a ghost to play with. And he hasn't been the same since the day she died. But their hearts are still linked together. Gretchen is my baby girl and there won't be another... ever. 

They have become... A Ghost and Pal. 

Reviews

[De 'Anthony Subban II]

i like your word choice