#sylviethedog

[persimmonsimmer]

The very next day called for another excursion to the park, this time with the entire family, including the dogs.

No one said so aloud, but they knew Peanut was getting up there and might not make it to spring. The old girl deserved to enjoy her final days to the fullest--chasing sticks, getting belly rubs, and taking in new sniffs surrounded by her family.

And as fate would have it, no sooner did the family return home after their day out than Death came to summon Peanut for one last game of fetch.

[persimmonsimmer]

[persimmonsimmer]

Later that evening, Sylvie gave birth to three puppies—two males and a female.

Peanut immediately came over to see her grandpups, but she left the mothering to Sylvie. She’s already raised three puppies of her own—time to let the younger generation take over.

[persimmonsimmer]

Miguel: “Hi Mom!”

Citlali: “How was school?”

Miguel: “Uh. You know. But I got an A on the test! See?”

Citlali: “Wow! I remember Grandma Han—oops, Ms. Chen’s— tests. They’re not easy. I’m so proud of you.”

Miguel: “Did Sylvie have her puppies yet?”

Citlali: “Still no sign of them yet, no.”

Miguel: “Aww, man.”

Miguel: “You can have your puppies any time you want, Sylvie, it’s OK. . . . But if you wanted to have them now, or like really soon, that’d be great! Don’t you want some little puppies to play with, girl?”

Miguel: “Ah! You’re . . . squeezing . . . too hard!”

Phoebe: “Oops. Sorry. I thought maybe if I squeezed you really tight you’d stay just this size forever. Guess we’ll have to wait and see if it worked, huh?”

Miguel: “I don’t think it works like that, Grandma Phoebe.”

[persimmonsimmer]

[persimmonsimmer]

“I can’t believe you’re all grown up. All my little girls, adults now.”

“Aww, Dad.”

“I’m not crying. I got something in my eye.”

“Daaad.”

“I thought I told you girls to dress warmer,” Cintia chided.

“Mooom. We will. It’s not that cold yet.”

“But you found the clothes I packed for you?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Good. And how’s the new house? Do you need Dad to help fix anything?”

“It’s good! We’d invite you guys over for dinner, but there isn’t a ton of room... but really, don’t worry!”

“Listen, it’s my job to worry about you.”

[persimmonsimmer]

Citlali was up bright and early the next morning, unlike her younger sister, who muttered incomprehensibly and put her pillow over her face when Citlali poked her head into her room.

But Citlali wasn’t the only one up and about at this hour.

“Back again, huh, girl?” She cooed at the familiar stray. “Are you going to let me near you this time? I promise I’m not scary.”

She slowly stepped forward. To her surprise, this time the dog didn’t run away.

All it took was a scratch between the ears. The dog leaned into Citlali’s hand, wariness melting into a goofy doggy grin and rapid-fire wagging of her nubby tail.

“Uh-oh. I think I know what this means,” Domingo said, emerging from the house to see Citlali and her new companion. “So, what’s the name of our newest family member?” Peanut looked nonplussed.

"Oh! Hi, Dad. I don’t know... You’re a pretty girl, aren’t you? Maybe... Sylvie? Do you like that? Would you like to live with us, girl? You poor thing, I can see your ribs. It’s weird, though--you didn’t look all that skinny from a distance. Anyway, if you stay, you can have all the food you can eat. What do you think, girl?”

As if in answer, the once-skittish dog flopped over, exposing her strangely engorged belly and wagging her nub even harder.

“I think we’re going to have more than one new family member soon, Dad,” Citlali said. “She’s pregnant.”

“Hmph. You look proud of yourself.”

[persimmonsimmer]

For several weeks now the Moraleses had been receiving regular visits from an uninvited guest.

The stray always made a beeline for Peanut and Bandit’s food bowl, scarfing up its contents in short order while Peanut watched the intruder from a distance with an expression of pained forbearance.

Citlali had been trying to get the dog accustomed to her presence, with little success so far. As long as she spoke quietly and stayed seated a good distance away, the stray--a young female, as far as Citlali could tell--would keep a wary eye on her but stay put until she’d finished her meal.

But every time Citlali tried to get any closer, the dog’s body would grow rigid and a moment later she would be bounding away at full speed.

Citlali sighed. I only want to help you. Poor thing.

She would just have to keep trying and hope the dog continued to come back.