The Commitment Decision

A Story by Willys Watson

“Are you sure we’re ready to have one now?” she asked.

“Pretty sure,” he replied.

“We have to be more than pretty sure because it’s a lifetime commitment. The feeding, walking and teaching it what to do and what it can’t do, Honey.”

“Yeah, I know that. Remember, both our folks have some.”

“And we’ll make some mistakes in the learning process, but I sure want one to hold it my hands, to cuddle with and us to love.”

“So do I, but we should study them for awhile before we choose to see one would more likely match our temperament.“

“Our temperaments and personalities? We are not bring home a dozen of them, Honey.”

“Let’s just go see and decide on the spot,” he suggested as he grabbed the car keys.

When they arrived at the address there were four of them to study and the woman said it was okay as long as they didn’t make any loud noises while studying watching them.

Three of them seemed to stay close together, perhaps for comfort, perhaps because they were so young. But the forth one seemed like the adventurous, curious type exploring it’s surrounding and they told the attendee they wanted that one. After they adopted it they decided to call the female Golden Retriever puppy Sassy.

Their next stop was to the local Animal Shelter where they selected a mixed-breed mutt of a dog to adopt and decided to call him Rusty, a name they thought suited him because most of his fur was a rusty brown, except for a few spots of grey. And he was older, perhaps three, but mellow.

The rescue dog and the Golden Retriever puppy was their choices, one a survivor of tough times, the other gentle, loving and full of engery. But both will be equally loved because, to this couple in their thirties, who couldn’t have children of their own, these two dogs, the puppy and the older