Saving Sammy
“Give it back Alex” I protested to my older brother. “Come on Mimi” he teased.
I hated being called Mimi even though that wasn’t my real name. Alex just loved to bug me. My real name is Mini and I live in New Orleans. Anyway back to the fight.
“Give it back” I screamed once again.
That momma’s boy took my giant teddy bear my aunt Matilda sent me for my thirteenth birthday, which I wasn’t that excited about. I don’t know why, I just don’t get that excited anymore about birthdays, unless I got a car. People tell me I look a lot like my aunt Matilda. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, and a little of a tan. Guess what so do I.
By this time my dad walked into my room.
“Good job Alex” he laughed.
“Are you kidding” I asked.
“All part of the plan” Alex said smugly.
Then I realized what they had done. They knew I wouldn’t get my giant teddy bear from my almost 6’0 tall brother. “Why would they want me to not be able to get it back though” I thought to myself. Then I realized. “What kind of present am I getting” I asked.
They both smiled then and motioned for me to follow them out of my room. I followed all the way down to the living room. I saw my mom sitting on the couch with a huge smile on her face. She handed me a big present. I held it in my hands shocked and disappointed. I was disappointed, because I was hoping for a car. I started to tear off the wrapping paper. Then I saw something that would change my life. “A dog collar?” I asked. I looked at it. The collar read “Sammy”. At first I didn’t know what to think, and then I looked up at my parents with a huge grin on my face. “Yep” Alex answered before I could even ask. I couldn’t believe it; I was getting a puppy for my birthday. There was just one problem. “Where’s he at?” I asked. Alex looked at me and grinned. Then he opened my parents’ bedroom door. Before I knew it there was a big object that knocked me to the ground. This surprised me because I was expecting a puppy. He had features of a puppy…………well about a half grown puppy. I looked at him for a long minute as he licked my face about to smother me. I was relieved when I knew that he was a sweet dog. I mean think about it, what kind of dog would go up to someone he just met in his life, tackle, and lick them to death. He was the most gorgeous dog I had ever seen. His features were amazing, starting with his long golden hair that even shined in our dim lit home, and his dark brown eyes that just sparkled into mine like stars in a night sky. “He’s beautiful!” I said aloud. “He sure is,” my dad answered.
Chapter 2: Later
The summer was just beginning to end, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. Sammy was my summer. I mainly just spent my time with him. We were like a heart in some weird way. When one of us would go somewhere we both became heartbroken. When we returned to each other you could just hear the angels’ singing. Ever since that first day we met each other it was like we were destined to be best friends. Little did I know that that would soon change. “Attention! Attention! This is not a drill!” the weatherman said on TV. “If you live in New Orleans, GET OUT NOW! There is a hurricane coming in three days. I repeat get out Now!” he basically yelled. Before he could finish my dad turned off the TV and said “Time to pack”. Chapter 3: Left behind Before I knew it I was bringing my last suitcase out to the car. That’s when I noticed something. “Where’s Sammy going to go?” I asked calmly. My parents just looked at each other for a minute, then back at me. “I’m sorry Mini, but I’m afraid…………… Sammy isn’t going to fit” my dad said slowly. It took me a minute to realize. “No!” I screamed. If we leave him he’ll……….DIE! You heard the weatherman. “I’m sorry Mini, but there is no room. We have to think of family first,” my mom said. I could see tears coming in her eyes. “Sammy is family! If there is no room take my stuff out of the car. I DON’T NEED IT!” I yelled with tears flowing down my face. “Now Mini you need your stuff,” my dad said turning his head away. How could my dad do this? He loved Sammy just as much as I did, if not more. I fell to the ground. “I need Sammy more,” I said softly. They knew I wasn’t going to come easily. My dad looked at Alex. Alex hesitated by stepping back knowing what my dad was thinking. “I can’t do that” Alex said a loud. “She’d hate me for it.” “You have to son,” my dad said sadly. “It’s the only way she’ll go.” Alex stood there for a moment shaking his head. At that time I knew what they meant. I was actually grateful Alex was stubborn. Then he did something that angered me. He sighed and looked as if he was going to cry, then dodged toward me. I ran for the door but it was too late. He put me to his side like he did when I was little playing superman. “No!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “You can’t Alex. Let me stay here PLEASE! Your going to get him KILLED!” Alex just ignored me with tears coming down his eyes. He loved Sammy like the brother he never had. I never pictured him forcing me into a car and leaving his brother to die. He threw me in the car and held me down so I couldn’t get out. I kicked and screamed, but nothing worked. My parents quickly got in the car not looking at me with tears streaming down their eyes. We started to drive down the road. I cried in agony as loud as I could. There was no way they could ignore me. Alex looked down at me. “I’m sorry Mini,” he said softly. I looked at my bedroom window as we drove away. Sammy was sticking his head out of it barking. I knew I would never see my Sammy again. Chapter 4: Alive or Dead I woke in my aunt Matilda’s bed. She lived in Texas. I looked around a little bit confused, but I could realize the room from anywhere. Then a picture of Sammy came into my mind and I fell on the bed crying. My mom came in. “How long have we been here?” I demanded. I remembered the betrayal she did, and became very angry at her. “Two days” she answered. I could tell she was ashamed of what happened. I just laid there with nothing but anger and confusion in me. Had I really been asleep that long? “Where’s dad and Alex?” I asked. “On their way back from the house” she answered. She came and sat by me, then started to pat my back comforting me. I was very confused. My mom looked at me and immediately knew my confusion. “They felt terrible for doing something so horrible to you” she said. I wanted to come, but they tolled me to stay here with you. “Alex felt bad?” I asked flattered. “Oh yeah, he was balling when we arrived here” she said. He thought you hated him. I sat silent for a moment then remembered Sammy. “Wait” I said. If they are on their way back…….. Then they must have- I got cut off by the sound of car doors slamming. “Sammy!” I screamed and ran to the door. Before I could open the door all the way, Sammy dove into me and licked my face clean of my tears. It reminded me of the first day I got him.