Lana
My daughter Hillary loves animals and had always wanted a dog. She had horses, cats, fish, and a hamster, but always begged for a dog. Not being a dog person, I held out for as long as I could. It's not that I don't like dogs, I just don't like ill-mannered dogs, and most of the dogs I knew fell into that category.
When Hillary was about to enter 7th grade, she was showing signs of not liking school, and I knew she needed to start working harder to get ready for high school. So, just before 7th grade started, I made a deal. If she got straight A's all 7th grade, she could have dog. I jokingly said that she would have to get all A's in 8th grade in order to keep the dog!
Well, the first quarter of 7th grade, she came home with all A's and a B in band. She was devastated. I knew that if the bet were lost in the first quarter, the rest of the year would not go well. Not that band and music are not important, because I think they are, but the fact that only a few kids in her class were in band, I felt that I could let that B go.
The second semester was all A's, leaving my stomach a little queasy. I was starting to get worried. The third semester brought one B, in math - which was always her hardest subject. The day she got her report card, I was picking my sister up at the hospital. Hillary called my office, but I had already left. I asked my office mate to answer my phone, thinking my sister might call, as I was running a bit late. My office mate called me on my cell phone and urgently told me I needed to call home, as Hillary was very upset about something.
When I called her, it took about 5 minutes for me to understand what she was talking about through all of the hysterical sobs. I surely thought one of the horses or one of the cats had been found dead or dying when she got home. When I finally understood that she had gotten a B on her report card, I told her we'd talk about it later. When I got home, I didn't say anything. I didn't say anything about it for 3 days (letting her suffer as much as possible!). I finally told her that I would count that as strike 2, but 3 strikes meant she was out. She would have to really work hard the last semester to get that dog.
In late May, Sonja called me to say that she was going on a rescue mission, and did I want that dog. The semester was not over, but the delivery date for the dog would be the day on which Hillary got her final report card, so I had to make a choice before I knew the outcome of her grades. I decided that she had worked very hard all year, and we'd let her have the dog.
I told Sonja that I didn't want a big dog, nor did I want a little thing. I didn't want a dog ready for the grave, but I didn't want a puppy, either. I wanted a dog with impeccable manners. All this was said hoping that no match would be found. I got an email 3 days later from Sonja saying she had found the perfect dog for us - Daisy, a medium sized black dog who had been spayed and should fit the bill.
My husband and I made up a story and were going to lie to Hillary to get her to go with us to pick up the dog at 3:00 on Hillary's last day of school. However, about noon, Sonja called me and told me that the dog she had in mind would not work. It was not the type of dog a skeptic like me would want. I actually felt disappointed. I had finally made up my mind that we were going to have a dog, and now it was in question. Sonja indicated that there were a couple of other dogs that might fit the bill, so she would bring them in addition to Daisy, just in case we still wanted Daisy.
Meanwhile, when Hillary got home, she was quick to point out that she did, indeed, get all A's the final marking period. She immediately went to the computer and sent an email to Sonja (whom I had warned ahead of time that this would happen and to just ignore her email).
When we got to the pick-up point, Hillary knew Sonja and finally figured out what was going on. She had a choice of 3 dogs - Daisy, the afore-mentioned barker; a cute dog we nicknamed Foxy because she was the color of a fox; and Lana - a very shy dog. I ruled out Daisy, so Hillary was left with choosing Foxy or Lana. Hillary chose Lana.
Lana was afraid of everything and everyone at first. When we'd take her for a walk, she would cower on the side of the road if someone were coming toward her a half mile away. She is adjusting slowly, although we still have to carry her into the vet's office. She is a very sweet dog, and, I hate to say it, I love her, too. I don't care for all the black hair she sheds all over the house, but I'm getting used to it. She has gone camping with us, loves to ride in the car and loves to be outside. I think Hillary will agree that it was worth all the studying in 7th grade!Westford, VT
When Hillary was about to enter 7th grade, she was showing signs of not liking school, and I knew she needed to start working harder to get ready for high school. So, just before 7th grade started, I made a deal. If she got straight A's all 7th grade, she could have dog. I jokingly said that she would have to get all A's in 8th grade in order to keep the dog!
Well, the first quarter of 7th grade, she came home with all A's and a B in band. She was devastated. I knew that if the bet were lost in the first quarter, the rest of the year would not go well. Not that band and music are not important, because I think they are, but the fact that only a few kids in her class were in band, I felt that I could let that B go.
The second semester was all A's, leaving my stomach a little queasy. I was starting to get worried. The third semester brought one B, in math - which was always her hardest subject. The day she got her report card, I was picking my sister up at the hospital. Hillary called my office, but I had already left. I asked my office mate to answer my phone, thinking my sister might call, as I was running a bit late. My office mate called me on my cell phone and urgently told me I needed to call home, as Hillary was very upset about something.
When I called her, it took about 5 minutes for me to understand what she was talking about through all of the hysterical sobs. I surely thought one of the horses or one of the cats had been found dead or dying when she got home. When I finally understood that she had gotten a B on her report card, I told her we'd talk about it later. When I got home, I didn't say anything. I didn't say anything about it for 3 days (letting her suffer as much as possible!). I finally told her that I would count that as strike 2, but 3 strikes meant she was out. She would have to really work hard the last semester to get that dog.
In late May, Sonja called me to say that she was going on a rescue mission, and did I want that dog. The semester was not over, but the delivery date for the dog would be the day on which Hillary got her final report card, so I had to make a choice before I knew the outcome of her grades. I decided that she had worked very hard all year, and we'd let her have the dog.
I told Sonja that I didn't want a big dog, nor did I want a little thing. I didn't want a dog ready for the grave, but I didn't want a puppy, either. I wanted a dog with impeccable manners. All this was said hoping that no match would be found. I got an email 3 days later from Sonja saying she had found the perfect dog for us - Daisy, a medium sized black dog who had been spayed and should fit the bill.
My husband and I made up a story and were going to lie to Hillary to get her to go with us to pick up the dog at 3:00 on Hillary's last day of school. However, about noon, Sonja called me and told me that the dog she had in mind would not work. It was not the type of dog a skeptic like me would want. I actually felt disappointed. I had finally made up my mind that we were going to have a dog, and now it was in question. Sonja indicated that there were a couple of other dogs that might fit the bill, so she would bring them in addition to Daisy, just in case we still wanted Daisy.
Meanwhile, when Hillary got home, she was quick to point out that she did, indeed, get all A's the final marking period. She immediately went to the computer and sent an email to Sonja (whom I had warned ahead of time that this would happen and to just ignore her email).
When we got to the pick-up point, Hillary knew Sonja and finally figured out what was going on. She had a choice of 3 dogs - Daisy, the afore-mentioned barker; a cute dog we nicknamed Foxy because she was the color of a fox; and Lana - a very shy dog. I ruled out Daisy, so Hillary was left with choosing Foxy or Lana. Hillary chose Lana.
Lana was afraid of everything and everyone at first. When we'd take her for a walk, she would cower on the side of the road if someone were coming toward her a half mile away. She is adjusting slowly, although we still have to carry her into the vet's office. She is a very sweet dog, and, I hate to say it, I love her, too. I don't care for all the black hair she sheds all over the house, but I'm getting used to it. She has gone camping with us, loves to ride in the car and loves to be outside. I think Hillary will agree that it was worth all the studying in 7th grade!Westford, VT
