🐾 MyAnimal Friends

🖤 Bobby — My First Friend 🐾

I met my very first friend on the day I arrived. His name was Bobby.

He was already an 18-year-old retired dog who had been a loyal member of the family since he was just two months old, watching over the house and the people he loved.

Bobby was already old and unwell when I arrived, so at first he was a little wary of me. I, on the other hand, was an excited little puppy and immediately wanted to play with him. Of course, Bobby wasn't really interested in that any more.

During the nearly two months we lived together, I learnt a lot from him.

Bobby slept inside in the living room, while I slept on the terrace.

Except on that one cruel night.

Mum invited me into bed with her so I could stay with them for a little while. I was already asleep when I woke up to Mum asking Dad to go and check on Bobby, who was outside in the garden with Grandma. Mum had heard him coughing strangely.

Dad went outside, but he didn't come back.

Mum and I stayed together in the bedroom, while Dad stayed outside with Bobby.

I couldn't understand why Mum wouldn't let me go outside.

Then, in the early hours of the morning, Mum went outside too. I was left alone in the bedroom.

Later, Mum and Dad came back inside and went to bed.

We woke up early that morning.

I looked for my friend Bobby, but he was nowhere to be found. I could still smell him in the garden where he had been lying.

Somehow, I knew then that he wasn't coming back.

Later, during our daily walk, Mum and Dad took me to a beautifully arranged grave covered with flowers and candles.

Mum told me that Bobby was sleeping there now and that he would be watching over us from above. She told me that after Mum and Grandma had both said goodbye to him in the early hours of the morning, Bobby had fallen asleep forever.

That afternoon, Mum and Dad went to the shops, and I stayed at home with Grandma.

I decided that I wanted to say goodbye too, to the friend who had been beside me for nearly two months.

So I picked some flowers, gathered up my favourite toy and carried them to the place where Bobby had fallen asleep forever.

With my little mind and my little heart, that was the only way I knew how to show him that I missed him and to pay my respects to Bobby.

Of course, I still miss him.

I often lie in the places where he used to lie, but at the same time, I try to carry on the job of being a loyal member of the family and watching over our home — something I learnt from him.

This story was written in memory of my first and best friend and teacher, Bobby. 💔🖤

— Stitch 🐾