By Martha Call, Grade 5
Why are you still here? Why are you not at the office I’ve heard you complain about so much?
I’m not mad. You being here gives me a chance to curl up in your lap and be told I’m loved over and over and over, while you scratch my head and my back. You being here keeps the dog from terrorizing me. Don’t ever go back to the office. You being here means I get fed more.
And talked to more.
You being here means that everything will be fine, that if the Roomba runs over my feet you’ll be there to turn him off, to whisper that you love me over and over and over.
“ What should we do tonight?” you say, “Order a pizza?”
MEOW!
“No?” you say, “What about a hamburger?
MEOW!
“Really? No hamburger either?”
Meow.
“Okay,” you say, I can hear your hesitancy, “Do you want Pet Palace Sushi?”
Purrrrrrrrrrrrr.
“All right Lucky, Pet Palace it is.”
WOOF!
“Don’t worry Bear,” you say to the brute of a bulldog, “I’ll order a steak for you.”
You pick up your phone and tap it a couple of times, a noise comes out of it for a few seconds, then a familiar voice says,
“ Hello Ms. Valusen.”
“Hello John, do you have my number memorized?” you say to John.
“Maybe,” replies John, “How are Lucky and Bear?”
Bear barks loudly. I headbutt the phone and purr.
“Can you hear them?” you say.
“Yeah!” John says.
“Well guys,” you say, “I’ll be right back.”
You reach into a basket near the door and pull out a blue thing.
