Twigs
I quickly shoved all my dirty clothes from a well spent week at camp into my bag. My younger cousin, Sarah, was packing up too, while our brothers were wrestling each other downstairs. My grandparents called this summer adventure Cousin’s Camp.
They took their five grandchildren to a camp in Arcadia, Michigan where we made little wooden boats, licked colorful cones of ice cream, and played in the Lake Michigan waves. But, the end of camp had come, just as endings always do, and this was the morning my parents would come to take us home.
I remember waiting in the living room of the cabin, sad that the week was finished. My grandma seemed a tad overly excited and urgent when she said, “Oh look, Kelly and Corey! Go outside, your parents are here!”
We opened the squeaky screen door, carrying our luggage, and out of our light blue van, a tan fluff-ball came running toward us. I looked at my parents and saw the smiles on their faces. And I was excited, but confused. Corey had always nagged them about getting a dog, but I never thought it would actually happen.
I tried to pet him, but he ran around the yard like a fly trying to get outside. He calmed down, eventually and we made our way back to Chicagoland with our new friend sitting at the feet of my brother and I; a happy and content dog, next to happy and content kids.
At home, taking him for walks looked more like Olympic speed walking. This tan fluff-ball would pull on the leash the whole time as if he wanted to dislocate my arm. He channeled this excitement into great enthusiasm for all of creation. When he would find a big stick in the grass, he’d pick it up and carry it home with extra prance in his stride. We all found this too endearing, so after a family meeting, we gave the new family member the name: Twigs.
This surprise was eight years ago. And he still acts like it’s the best thing in the world when we come home from grocery shopping. He doesn’t know how to roll over, but he does a great job of waiting until we say, “free” to eat what's in front of him. If he’s feeling sassy about not getting what he wants, he’ll jolt his head down while giving a huff through his nose, but most of the time, it’s just because he wants a little petting.
Twigs used to always turn away from my camera and never hold a pose for me. But now, he just gives me a ‘fine, do what you want' look until he goes to a different spot to lay down. Right now, he likes the corner of our sunroom, behind the La-Z-Boy chair.
Last week, I was packing up my things, ready to move back to Michigan for a third year at college. Boxes of folded clothes, kitchen supplies, and books filled the living room. And Twigs was there, on the floor, laying next to them.
I laid down too, stroking his fluffy head, wishing he could come back to Michigan with me. Someone to rush to me when I come home after class. Someone to stay up with me while I finish my art projects. Someone to pet when I need a little peace. But, he’ll be there when I come home and for a few moments, he’ll act like I’m the most important person in the world.
And I will pet him for as long as he pleases.~kj