"Please don't! He's just a puppy, he didn't mean any harm," pleaded the young girl.
A man picked up the remains of a baseball. He tried to piece together the part where it had been signed, then his already red face turned scarlet. He slammed the once prized memento into a cardboard box.
Taking a few steps back, the girl clutched the small puppy so tight that he whimpered. "I promise, I'll make sure Chance never gets into anything else again. Please, let me try one more time?"
"No, I've had it. I'll make good and sure he never gets into anything else again while you're at school!"
Tears welled in her round, hazel eyes. "But Dad, he's like my baby..."
"Pam, I don't care if he's the president, he's got to go! I won't leave him alone in here again to wreck the house."
At those final words, Pam ran into her room. Her tears began to fall onto Chance's head. He wriggled even harder.
Pam shut the door quietly, then released the puppy. Glad to be free, he frolicked at her feet.
"How could he do this to you? You're so small!" Pam exclaimed, before throwing herself on the bed, and covering her head with a pillow.
Some time later, her father's now calm voice rang through the house. "Supper is ready, Pam. I made your favorite dessert."
"Thanks, but I'm not hungry," she managed to call out in a somewhat normal voice.
She spent the rest of the evening in her room, cuddling with Chance whenever he was willing. Mostly he wanted to play, despite her somber mood.
Early the next morning, she awoke to a soft voice. Her father was standing over her bed, holding her school clothes. "Pam, it's time to get up."
Pam yawned, then closed her eyes after looking at the clock. "It's too early."
"I know it's earlier than usual, but I wanted to make sure that you have plenty of time to say goodbye to Chance."
Despite his kind voice, her eyes flew open at those dreadful words.
Instantly awake, she took her clothes. Once she was ready, she sat on her bed. Holding the wriggling puppy close, she sobbed.
"Breakfast is ready, Pam."
"I'm not hungry, Dad."
"You didn't have any supper. You have to eat something."
"Can Chance stay home?"
"You know he can't. I'm sorry, but it just isn't working out."
"Maybe I can take him to school with me. I'll ask Miss Parson."
"No. Even if she allowed it once, she wouldn't let him go with you every day."
A new wave of tears made its way to her eyes. "Then I don't want any breakfast."
Several minutes later, Dad came in and gently scooped up Chance. Pam followed, looking at her feet.
After a short drive, Dad stopped at a tidy looking home, with a fenced in yard. He put his hand gently on her shoulder, and smiled. "He's going to be fine here. Say goodbye, then I'll take him in."
"But can't I go in with you? And see what it's like?"
"No Pam, I think it's better if you don't. It'll be easier this way, for both of you."
After a long and tearful farewell, Dad finally took the tiny puppy, and disappeared into the house.
The rest of the trip to school was quiet. Pam hid her face behind her backpack, and Dad didn't try to make her talk.
All through school she worried about the puppy. She picked at her lunch, but still wasn't truly interested in it.
When she saw Dad's car, she sprinted towards it. "I hope Chance is alright. He must be so scared," she said as she climbed in.
"Well why don't we find out? Would you like to go in, and meet Miss Rose?"
"Yes, very much."
When they arrived at the same house where Pam had seen Dad take Chance, she jumped out the instant he stopped, without waiting for instructions.
She raced up the walkway, and pounded on the door.
It opened, slowly. It seemed to take an eternity, in the child's view of the world. "Hello, can I help you?" a middle aged woman asked.
Pam, almost hysterical by now, simply nodded. Then she found her voice. "Where is Chance?"
Miss Rose stepped aside, and opened the door wider.
Pam and Dad both stepped in, and he shut the door gently.
"The puppies are in the backyard right now. It's warm, so I thought they might want to play in the wading pool," she explained happily.
"Wading pool?" Pam whispered to herself.
Soon they were in a large, beautiful backyard with a high fence. The neatly trimmed grass was strewn with dog toys. In the very center was a large children's wading pool.
Puppies were running around playing, and several were in the pool, splashing like little kids.
Miss Rose pointed towards the pool. "There he is, playing with Rusty and Panda."
Pam ran over, and began to play as well. "I'm so glad you had fun today, Chance! I was so worried about you. We have to go home in a few minutes. Do you like this place? It seems fun here."
Ignoring her completely, Chance pounced on a squeaky toy.
"It's time to go, Pam," Dad called out.
She scooped up the puppy, who wriggled in an attempt to get away.
As she approached, Miss Rose smiled.
Dad extended his hand, and she took it. "Thank you for taking such good care of Chance, Ma'am. We'll see you tomorrow."
After goodbyes had been said, the three made their way back to the car.
Dad rubbed his chin, looking at his smiling daughter. "Are you still upset that he has to go to doggie daycare?"
"No, I was just worried that he might get hurt by the other dogs, or be scared. He seems to like it!"
"Good, then you'll eat supper tonight?"
"I'm starving!"
He smiled, pulling out a signed baseball, and tossing it lightly in his hand. "And I don't have to worry about him wrecking the house ever again..."
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery