GEN IV: Chapter 31

Just as Adelaide stepped away from the computer she got a message on her phone that the pet she had adopted would be dropped of in about five minutes. She went outside to wait and within just three minutes, the animal was released into her possession.

It was a beautiful, lightly cream colored Samoyed. Her given name was 'Rosie' but Adelaide just did not think that fit her well. So as of that moment, she was named Emma. Adelaide made a cautious approach, as she wasn't sure of how the dog behaved just yet. It seemed though, that Emma was just as ginger and alert as Addy was.

Adelaide squatted down to Emma's level and tried to see if she knew how to sit. She gave the command firmly yet gently. The dog did not react.

"Well, I guess you've not had any training. That's okay, I'm sure your new owner will fix that." Adelaide smiled and stood up. Just then Logan came around the corner, the bus having just dropped him off.

As soon as he saw the dog standing with Adelaide, Logan clapped and said "Alright! A dog, awesome!"

Adelaide turned to Logan, "Yes, she's for you. An early birthday present. Her name is 'Emma', and I hope you like her."

"Like her? I love her, she's so perfect!"

Smiling at Logan's delight, Adelaide handed him a small pig toy and left him to bond with his new friend. She went inside to set up the rest of the dog's things. She had gotten a little box and filled it with squeaky toys, a bag of dog food and a bowl, also a few balls for Emma to play with. Adelaide even got a dog-bed that she put up in Logan's room. The family had finally gotten Jennifer's old room changed around and now it belonged to David. This made the perfect spot for the newest edition; Emma.

Logan took the toy from Adelaide and put it in his pocket, then he held out his hand for Emma to sniff. Once she seemed to accept him, Logan smiled and then pulled the pig-toy out to squeak it. Emma was immediately ready to play, apparently she couldn't resist a good squeaky toy. She was very playful, and animated. The dog jumped in the air when Logan brought the toy high up, and rolled on the ground when he brought it back down. She yelped and barked and seemed to laugh a doggy laugh.

When Logan decided to put the toy away, Emma's attention went to her surroundings. She sniffed and tasted objects in her area. Logan figured he should bring her inside to explore and get used to her new home. When he called her at the door she came, and stepped inside slowly.

Logan went and filled the dog bowl with food, then sat down to have a meal of his own while Emma looked around. The dog did just that, she sniffed every corner of the house and even looked at the pictures on the wall as if she was memorizing every detail. She found her box of toys, and the ball, also her bowl of food. She tasted a few bites of that before moving on to explore the kitchen.

After Logan finished his dinner, he went in search of Emma, finding her outside. He had brought a brush with him to comb out her long hair. While he did so, the dog licked his cheek and leaned into the brush strokes. She seemed to really enjoy it. As Logan worked out some knots, he came to the conclusion that he would have to brush her one or two time a day to keep her fur nice.

Logan finished up brushing her and realized how tired he was, though he couldn't tell if the dog was tired, he coaxed her to come upstairs with him. When he went into his room, Logan saw Emma's new bed, and he smiled. He showed the dog her bed, and she actually went right in to it and laid down. Logan smiled at her and pat her head, then climbed into his own bed. Tomorrow was his birthday, and he couldn't wait. He only had to go through one more day of that wretched school.

Logan held his birthday party at the park. He was inviting many people and didn't want the house to be quite that crowded. Emma came along to the party as well, since the city had made some changes to the park; adding things for animals to enjoy too. The invited guests of the party arrived right on time, the teenagers running up to greet Logan as soon as they got there.

"Hey, Carla. I think Adelaide got you a cake to celebrate your birthday too, are you ready?" Logan chuckled a little, knowing full well that Carla has been ready to grow up for a while now.

Logan lit the candles on his own cake as his friends and even some strangers gathered around. Soon he was leaning over making a wish, then blowing them back out.

Logan's all grown up

After Logan had grown, and the crowd commented on his looks 'how big and handsome he had become', Adelaide put out a second cake for Carla.

"Thanks Addy, you're awesome." Carla said just before she blew out her own candles. She grew into quite a lovely lady, and everyone cheered just as hard for her as they did for Logan.

Even though it was already getting dark, the park was well lit so the party lasted a while longer. People danced and played in the grass. Someone grilled some hot dogs, but no one ate them since they were full on cake.

"So how's that raccoon problem Addy?" Brian inquired during breakfast a few days later.

"Actually I think Emma has taken care of that problem, she loves chasing them away. At least she gets to them before they knock over the can." Adelaide replied.


"That's my girl." Logan said, like a proud father.

After he finished his breakfast, Logan called Emma to the foyer. It was time for some training exercises. They did this every day and Emma picked up on things very quickly, she had already learned to sit and speak. Now Logan was teaching her to sit pretty. This didn't take very many tries either, Emma figured out what he wanted quickly and did as he asked. She did loose her balance the first two or three times, but by the fourth time she had it mastered.

Only a week after their shared birthday, Logan and Carla would be graduating together. There were only five students in their graduation class, which would make for a pretty short observance.

It wasn't much longer before the family was dressed and walking to the graduation ceremony. They only lived just around the corner, and very often walked to town instead of driving. This was the first time that the whole family had left, leaving the dog behind. Emma did not like it much and after only a few minutes, she followed them out the door.

When the family arrived at the school, they were met by Dylan and Carla as well. Everyone was walking in when Adelaide said that she needed a moment.

She put the back of her hand to her forehead and looked like she was about to faint. "Oh my baby. He was so little when I met him, and now he's all grown up and graduating! What am I going to do? I don't think I can handle this."

Logan, who had already gone inside, poked his head back out the door and with a huge smile he said, "Are you coming Addy?"

She let out a big sigh and said she was. David followed her in and they all sat through a three hour ceremony. Logan was voted Valedictorian, top of his class and won awards for that. Brian was very proud of Logan growing up so well, but also couldn't help wishing he was just a little boy again. It seemed like time had gone by so quickly that he wasn't ready to let it go.

Outside, Emma waited patiently for her master to return. She would have gone inside, but couldn't figure out how to push the doors open.

After the ceremony was over, Logan came out and threw his diploma up in the air and cheered for himself. It felt so good not to have to go back to school anymore. Adelaide watched Logan loving his release. She couldn't help but smile and remember the day she graduated. He was being pretty conservative compared to what she did to celebrate. She recalled running down the street in the nude with two other graduates with a smile.

Carla came out a minute later and congratulated Logan, then she took her own diploma and stared at it. "I'm so glad this is over." She had said and Logan seconded her comment.

"I just wanted to say congratulations Carla. You're all out of school, and you've grown into quite a woman. Any guys in line for you yet?" Adelaide asked.

"Oh no, no way, not yet. I want to get settled before even thinking of 'settling down', you know? I'm too young for guys!" Carla stated.

"Okay, yeah I get that." Adelaide laughed, "Get a job and a place of your own first."

Logan and Emma were playing fetch, the dog especially having a fabulous time. One throw, Logan faked. Emma ran to get the stick but couldn't find it. Logan stood behind her snickering, she turned to look at him and he held out the stick to show her where it was, still laughing. One good thing about dogs is they don't hold a grudge, she wasn't mad at her master in any way - just happy to have found the stick. The two resumed the game for a little while longer.

David asked Adelaide to come with him to the park across the street to swing. She was more than happy to. They both left Brian talking with Dylan, but it wasn't long before Dylan, Carla, Brian and Logan came to tell them that the whole family was going to the Bistro for a celebratory dinner.

"I think I'm going to stop eating here!" Brian fumed as they walked out. "They always mess up the meal. The only good thing, is most of the time they comp it."

Dylan chuckled. "I'm sorry you've had problems, but maybe it's you, yeah? Okay I'm kidding, but I've not had a problem before tonight."

The food they had ordered had come out cold, as if the waitress had left it on the counter for ten minutes before bringing it out to them. She apologized profusely and paid for their dinner, hoping they wouldn't report this particular incident.

Outside the restaurant, Logan presented Carla with a graduation gift. It was only a simple plant but Carla loved it.

"It's for the new house that I know you're looking for." Logan had told her.

"Thanks Logan. Thanks for thinking of me." Carla said, "I'm sorry though, I didn't get you anything."

He told her that it was completely fine, he didn't need anything or have anything on a wish list. He was happy as he was, and where he was.




To be continued...