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December 24, 1987 - The Tale of the Christmas PuppyThe Tale of the Christmas Puppy_ By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Robby, Sara and Chelsea all lived in a wonderful little home down the road where the family had settled many years ago. The children had lots of toys, but the one thing they all wanted was a puppy to play with. Mother wasn't too excited about the idea since she had enough to do looking after three little Indians about the house, and the idea of a dog, "Well, we'll have to think that over pretty carefully." Saturday was set for the day to get Focus on Nature their Christmas tree, and for a while all thoughts about a puppy were pretty well forgotten. Christmas trees were a special tradition with the children as each year the family cut their own tree, so there'd be no rest until the tree was up in the big livi. -g room. When Sdturday came around there was snow on the ground. Picking out a Christmas tree required a lot of thought particularly on the part of the kids. "This one isn't big enough." "That one's too tall and skinny." It was starting to get dark when way off in a corner where no one had bothered to look mother called, "Come over and see this one. I think you'll all like it." Sure enough no one could say anything bad about it. It was perfect. The Perfect Tree It took a day or so in the garage for the snow to melt so it could be brought into the house. Then from up in the attic came old boxes of decora- tions. The lights were put up first after father got a stepladder to reach to the top. Ornaments of all colors and shapes, little figurines, wooden sleighs, old pictures and cards from years gone by were hung up. To com- plete the tree mother now hung tin- sel on every branch and seemingly every needle of the tree. There was no finer Christmas tree in all the world, the children agreed as their eyes sparkled with what seemed a thousand lights and reflections. Now if they could only have a puppy it would be the most perfect Christmas ever. The Suffolk Times /December 24, 1987 /Page 9A CHRISTMAS PUPPY Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh The next day father remembered how much he had wanted a puppy when he was a kid and never had one. He went to a kennel where they sold puppies. Yes, they had them but they cost $150 each. That was too much money so he thanked the man and said he would have to think it over. On his way back home he was thinking about a puppy and was sure it would be the best gift for the kids for Christmas. As he drove along he passed the Town Dog Pound. Now there was a place he'd forgotten all about. He swung the old car around and pulled into the parking lot. A nice young lady took father around to show him all the dogs that were available for adoption. When father said, "These all look very nice but do you have any puppies ?" a sparkle came into her eyes. "Yes, we have one we just picked up today. He was all wet and cold. I'll show him to you." Father was so glad he had thought of the pound. "Well, here we are," the attendant said as she stood before a cage filled with newspaper strips on the floor. In the corner he could see a furry lit- tle ball. It was the puppy fast asleep. It had light brown hair, and as it woke up and looked up he could see two big dark eyes that seemed to say, "Have you come to take me home ?" The Perfect Puppy He was perfect; just what the kids wanted. As the father held the warm little fluffy ball in his arms, a little pink tongue came out and licked his hand. That did it. "I'll take him," said father. To make a real surprise, father got a box just a little bigger than the puppy and lined it with newspaper. This would be wrapped up with a big bow with the puppy inside just before the children came down to see their presents. He poked a couple of air holes in the box for good measure. Christmas Eve was always such an exciting time. It seemed as if the whole world and everyone in it were bursting with joy. The children could hardly contain themselves. They even wanted to get to bed early so they could get up and see what Santa had left. Robby reminded his sisters how hard they should wish if they wanted a puppy for Christmas. The children tossed and turned in their beds for their heads were filled with the coming of Christmas. The soft laughter and giggles from down in the big living room didn't make sleeping any easier for the children knew there were all sorts of things going on down below. In the morning word spread from one to the other that it was time to get up and see what Santa had left. They knew they had to call to their Mom and Dad first before they went downstairs. "You three stay right up there 'til we tell you to come down," the mother called. "Get your bath- robes and slippers on and I'll let you know when." It seemed like that was the longest time they ever had to wait. In the meantime father went out into the garage and put the new puppy in the box and tied it with a bright red ribbon. He brought it in- side and placed it way back under the tree leaving all the other gifts in the front. Then the children were called. You can only imagine what they saw and how excited they must have been. The glow of Christmas lights filled the room and the gaily- covered pack- ages and toys under the tree were just too much to believe. Christmas was here. Packages were opened with a lot of oohs and aahs. "Look at my dolly." "See what I got." "Let me see." The Perfect Surprise, Then Sara spotted one last box way under the tree and wiggled under to get it out. It was a funny - feeling box for it sort of flopped and rolled around like something was unat- tached inside, and it was wet on the bottom. What could it be? Robby, the oldest, had to help open it. First the big red ribbon, then the fancy paper and the top opened up. "A puppy!" they all shouted as they pushed in closer to get a good look. The puppy was so cuddly and cute that he had to be handled by everyone. Mother smiled when she was handed the little ball of fluff, even though she did have some con- cern about the wet box. Father stood by beaming. His children would have a real live dog, something he'd never had. Perhaps that's the way it is. Sometimes you have to wait along long time before you finally get your special Christmas wish. ' ��.• �i�i,, �l�1, P���` A�': III�A�i�� ?�:�1�r.�'.�"�w�.t��:�l�:��1i�• X WE WISH EVERYONE • A BLESSED CHQIS'I'MA& •. X ' • AND -� HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YET X FROM Main 'Southold ... 1 1' Pharma ? y • J . . store. •N • JAV It Open Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve Till 6 p.m. e At Open Christmas Day and New Year's Day 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. V:l�J'�.J�;1�:.1fi.' iii.' T'. 'i�.=i'i�'Ti%��if�i'�.'if�%i�:•