Prelude - Sally's Dog Rex
As soon as Sally finished lunch she ran across the road to see if the Bronson’s dog had her puppies yet. Her Dad told her she could have one of the puppies as soon as it was weaned. She wondered what “weaned,” meant but was afraid to ask. She’d finished all her 2nd-grade homeschool work today before lunchtime. Neighbor Carl Bronson told her yesterday, “Lady would give birth any day now.” It was TODAY! Sally ran the whole two miles from Bronson’s barn back to her home across Highway 57. She threw open the side door and yelled: “Mom, Mom, Lady had her puppies.”
Mom replied “Great Sally. I’m in the kitchen.”
Sally hurried in “Mom, when can I get my puppy?”
“Sally it will take several weeks before it is old enough to leave its mother. As soon as Carl says it’s weaned we’ll bring it home. We’ll wait to pick out one until then to be sure you pick one that’s healthy.”
Sally thought ”So that’s what weaned means. Old enough to leave its home and mother.” She said “Mom, I still want to see the puppies every day until we bring one home.”
About four weeks later when dad came in from repairing one of the chicken houses, he said “Sally, Carl called me today and said its time for you to pick out your puppy and bring it home.”
Sally had been asking her parents almost every day “ Were the puppies weaned yet?” She’d seen them so much of them in the last four weeks she knew exactly which one she wanted.
“It’s the one with the yellow coat and bent ear,” she told Carl Bronson. Carl picked up the puppy “This one. You picked well. He’s one of the most active of the litter and I think he’s the smartest. You can take him home now but be sure to take him to the vet next week to get his shots and dewormed.”
Sally put the collar and leash on and announced to everyone in the barn; Mom, Dad and Carl “I’ve decided what his name will be. I read in my history book, the other day, that some kings are called Rex and the name of our town is Rextonville, so his name is Rex.” Rex sniffed Sally’s hand, licked it and remembered her unique scent.
Rex and Sally both loved running up and down the back hill together almost every day. Their relationship would become one of love and friendship as long as they both lived. Even when Rex was in another room he knew where Sally was by her scent. He loved it because he could always find her. “Rex and Sally, Sally and Rex,” Sally would shout as they ran around the farm, chasing each other. Occasionally Rex would chase a rabbit or a squirrel while Sally rested.
One day, Dad said to Sally “You and Rex sure are inseparable buddies, you’re always together.”
Sally said, “I love Rex. He’s my best friend after you, mom and Mary.” Mary was her homeschool “buddy” and they often studied and did science projects together.
