Memoir

Our Gift From Henry

I woke up Christmas morning, excited as could be. I tiptoed downstairs
and the closer I got, the clearer I could see that there was an
animal. I paused for a moment, unsure what to do. Until I heard my
dad sit up in bed. He turned all the lights on and thats when I saw
what it really was.

“What do you think of him” He whispered.

I didn't know what to say, my emotions were getting the best of me. I
just smiled and rushed downstairs.

I couldn't believe after all that time I had finally gotten what I
wanted, a dog. I thought about all the possibilities for names, and
decided to go with something different, Henry. My brother and I
finished opening our presents and got ready for our grandmother's.
When we got there all my family came up and pet Henry. I think they
loved him as much as I did. While we all visited and opened our
presents, Henry must have been tired because he slept beside me the
whole time. I would have to say, that was my best Christmas.

From that day on, Henry was my best friend. Although I didn't see him
everyday, the days I saw him I cherished. The days we went out to
play were great. I remember the way he sloshed through the puddles
making water sprinkle everywhere. I could see the happiness in his
eyes glow, and the friendliness he showed. Henry jumped high, chasing
after the butterflies he never caught. The cold fall wind chilled
[against] my body as I ran around trying to catch up with Henry. Then
he would stand there staring at me when I was waiting at the door.
“Come on Henry. Come get a treat” I called. I had never
had a dog this playful and really liked the fact he was. He didn't
want to come inside, so I gave up waiting. Finally he came around and
followed me inside to the warm home. We'd played enough outside for
the day.

At a family birthday party one year, my dad took all my family out back
to show them his subdivision. Of course as you know, Henry came too.
He started running ahead of us, so I called his name hoping he would
stop. He did, but not until he hit the road. That split second a car
came speeding down the road and hit Henry. I stood there, staring at
what had happened in front of me. Then, a miracle must have
happened because Henry got to his feet and trotted off the road. I
dried my tears and smiled. I couldn't believe what had just happened.
He's alive. He came over to me and I bent down and hugged his neck.
“It's gonna be okay Henry” I whispered.

After all that, I knew Henry was unstoppable. If he could live through
being hit by a car, he could live through anything. Unfortunately,
that wasn't the case. One afternoon when I was with my mom, my dad
called. I answered the phone and he asked to speak to my mom. I
didn't argue, I just handed her the phone. I listened to what they
were saying, but I figured they were just talking, so I didn't ask
questions. She hung up the phone and went back to what she was doing.

I got out of bed the next morning and rushed around to get ready. That
was the day I was with my dad. I couldn't wait to see Henry, and take
him outside to play. My mom drove us to our dads, and I hurried out
of the car and ran out back to what I thought was going to be Henry.
But he wasn't there. I looked around and thought to myself where he
would be. But then it hit me, he must be in his kennel. So from there
I went inside and as I got ready to go downstairs, my dad walked
towards me. “Where's Henry?” I asked.

He didn't look up at me. “Well....He's not here.”

“Where is he?”

“He.....died.”

I took a second to think about what was really said. Henry had died. My
feelings were unexplainable. Everything just rushed around through my
mind. Then I broke down in a flow of tears. My best friend was had
left me.

A little later that day when I felt a little better about everything,
I asked my dad how Henry died. “Well were not really sure yet.
I think that he had a heart-attack. Ever since he got hit by that
car, he's never been the same.” He answered. I just nodded, not
really caring anymore. Then made my way back to my bedroom.

The next day, I sat up in bed and looked out my window. It was that
moment that it had really sank in that Henry had died. I wasn't in a
good mood, and my dad knew because he didn't say a word to me. I
stood at the kitchen sink rinsing my plate off when I saw a glance of
yellow. I took a closer look through the window and it looked like
some sort of flower. So I walked out back and took a look. It was a
sunflower. But where did it come from? I knew for sure we didn't
plant it. I went inside and got my dad. He looked at the flower and
didn't say anything. Finally he looked up at me and answered, “It's
our gift from Henry.”

I thought about it and said it again to myself, “It's our gift
from Henry.”

Although Henry isn't with us anymore, he was a great dog while he lived. I
will never forget the times we had together, and that Christmas day
he became my friend.