Conversations with a Chihuahua

I am a glutton for punishment. On Sunday, I begged, pleaded and whined until Ben took me to the puppy store. After holding a papillion who was much more interested in taunting the baby boxer below him, I was handed a cream colored Chihuahua. His tiny little nose was brown and his eyes were a bright brown. His skin was the color of muffin mix just barely cooked.

He was adorable. Ignoring the chaos in the store, I leaned my head down. His tiny little tongue licked my nose enthusiastically. After we were properly introduced, he nestled in my hands and huddled in the empty hollow of my collarbone. I leaned my chin gently on his head. He nuzzled up to me and occasionally kissed my lips.

"I want one of you so bad," I cooed softly to him. He sneezed in agreement. "Two puppies," I whispered. "We're going to get two puppies."

The puppy delicately began to chew on my thumb. As I gently spoke and cooed to him, all the stress from writing melted away. The rejection, worry and general ups-and-downs of trying to get published evaporated with one of his tiny kisses. He smiled up at me, and I smiled back.

I laid my cheek against his head and imagined two puppies prancing about my kitchen. I imagined them stumbling across the carpet, begging at the table and leaping through the grass. I thought of the tiny muddy footprints on the kitchen floor, the terrified looks of shame after accidents and the soft sighs of contentment inches from my ear. Leaning down, the puppy licked my cheek, gently nibbling my earlobe. I giggled and kissed him again and again.

"It's time," Ben told me gently, his eyes misting a bit. He wanted the puppy even more than I did. He wanted it so bad he couldn't bear to touch it. Unable to part, I lifted him to my cheek for one last hit of hot puppy breath.

"As soon as I get published," I whispered, "And build up my freelancing, I can have you and a friend. Wouldn't you like that?"

The puppy yawned sleepily and licked his lips. All he wanted was some kibble and a nice blanket to curl up in. Reluctantly, I handed him over to the apathetic pet store employee. On the way home, I lifted my shirt to my nose and inhaled his sweet puppy scent. We pulled into the garage and went in the house. I went straight to my laptop and began to write.

With every word, I dreamt about puppies. I knew the more pages I finished, the sooner they would come.

Soon.