JUNE

Long time readers know that I have 3 children and that my two girls moved out on the same day last year to begin college life.

Junior, was left alone with his Mom and Dad ... not too horrible a situation, but still a big change for him ... and for us.

It wasn't too long after the move out that I started thinking about a pup for Junior.
We have two lab crosses, Flounder and Feather, but they are 12+ years old and sweet as they are, they've slowed down a bit.
Junior was a tyke when they were crazy bouncy pups and at 16, this is his last chance to be a boy with a wacky pup. I did not want him to miss out on that.

His Mom was on the same wavelength and mentioned it (No, No!) to Junior at some point.
Apparently, he had been thinking the same thing.

All year long, he has pushed for getting a pup.
All year long, his Mom has been aiding and abetting.
All year long, I have been saying, "No. Wait until June. In June, Junior and I will be off and we can give a puppy the proper attention and training."

For months now, I have been strong, ignoring the printouts from Petfinder.com that were mysteriously left on the computer desk, ignoring Junior's constant, "Are you getting the pup on the way home today?" comments, and ignoring the newspaper pup adds circled and left in plain view next to the coffee maker.

Yesterday, Mrs. FC and I turned into the Walmart parking lot to buy groceries and a truck was parked next to the feedstore with pups. Around here, that's a common sight and usually they are pitbull pups. Ugh.

I glanced over, "LAB PUPPIES $100", read the sign. What?
I told myself they were probably half lab/ half pit and I was wasting my time, but I spun the JEEP into the feed store lot.

The two ladies had 4 pups and the momma (definitely a lab) in the shade of big oak. One woman sat holding the smallest of the pups who seemed extremely content to be in her lap.

We talked.
The sire was a yellow lab who I actually have seen before as he lives next to my school. The pups showed no sign of anything but lab and the price was right.
We picked out a big footed healthy looking boy and I told the lady, " I'm going to walk next door to the credit union and get $100. We want this one. We have ten acres, two other labs, and will give him a loving home."

She looked at me and said, " Oh, that sounds wonderful ... I'll give you two for that price if you want another one ...as long as you take the runt."
She pointed to the little cutie in the other lady's lap. She got a little misty ...
"I want him to have a good home and I'm afraid no one will want him."

I glanced at Mrs. FC, got the nod, turned and said, " It's a deal."

We skipped grocery shopping, loaded up the pups, and drove home.
In the kitchen, I sat down and sent a one word text message to Junior who was at his friend's house.

"JUNE"

It was 1:27 pm.
At 1:28 pm, Junior called me up.

"Did you just text me? You never text me."
"Yes, I did."
"June?"
"Yes, I wanted you to know it's June."
"What ... OH, OH, YOU MEAN ..."
"Yup, June came early this year."
"OH MAN, I'M COMING HOME!"
"I thought you were going to spend the night."
"Not now, OH MAN ...I'll call you when I'm leaving ... can you pick me up at Otter Creek?
"Just let me know and I'll be there."


Never once was the word "dog" uttered in our conversation.

The bigger of the two pups is the official Junior dog and he has named him "BEAR".

The runt, is still awaiting an official naming session as Emma and Kate want to have input on his name.
That will happen today sometime.


In the meantime, we are basking in the glow of puppy joi de vie, and experiencing a bit of the same.