Years of Summer: Lily's Story

by Bethanie Armstrong

  Chapter 12

  Parking Dave’s Dad‘s huge truck took a couple of times, he finally pulled it into the space, but he parked three spaces down from any cars. Dave jumped out and walked over and opened my door for me. He unbuckled Sunshine and said “heel” and she jumped out of the truck and heeled. Then he helped me out of the truck by taking my hand as I slid out of what seemed like a five foot drop. Sam did the same for Ally.

  I was concerned that they would not let Sunshine in so I voiced that to Dave. “Dave are they going to let her in?”

  “Yeah, they’re service animal friendly, I’ll bet you’ll see why, while we’re here. One other thing you need to know. You’re probably going to get stared at, but don’t worry. It’s only because most people wished they had one of their own.”

  I laughed, he made me relax. “All you have to do Lily is remember those simple commands for tonight. Everything will be fine. You ready for Sunshine’s debut?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “You’ll do fine, trust me.” Then he kissed me on the forehead, as he hugged me to him. I didn’t flinch, I even enjoyed that. Ally and Sam were too busy laughing together to notice. That was probably best.

  “Okay, Lily, pick up the lead.” I did and she was ready to work. I felt rather confident. It was funny what was going through my mind. “I have a dog and you don’t”, in sing-song form. Dave offered me his arm and I took it. I had Dave in one hand and Sunshine in the other. She stayed right with me. We walked in and Dave had made reservations for four. Yes people stared, but the hostess that seated us paid no attention, or rather, seemed not to. She seated us at our table. “Your server will be with you momentarily.”

  “Thank you.” I answered for everyone. I guided Sunshine under the table in between my right foot and Dave's left foot, because there was no table stand there. I looked at her big brown eyes and love for me was just sparkling in them. I almost cried and she nuzzled my hand. I put both of my hands on her neck, so she would know I was okay. I looked into her eyes again and said, “Down . . . Stay.” She did that exactly. Dave seemed proud of me and he rested his arm on the booth top behind me. I relaxed and leaned back.

  A few minutes later an older Gentleman came to see us. He was very Italian and he had a service dog with him. It was a Chocolate lab. “I was informed by our hostess that we had another service dog among us. I had to come out to greet you and welcome you and your furry companion. This is for later when he or she is not working.”

  “She, her name is Sunshine.” He handed me a small wrapped package with a dog sticker on it. “Thank you very much for the gift for her.”

  “You are very welcome. This is Hershey,” as he pointed to his dog. I almost laughed and tried not to, but he caught me. He had a warm twinkle in his eyes when he smiled. “I know; I did the same thing when we were introduced about five years ago, but very fitting name for a chocolate lab don’t you think.”

  “Yes Sir, I do, very fitting name.”

  “I don’t know where I would be without him though, definitely not the owner of a five-star Italian restaurant. Enjoy your meal.”

  “Thank you very much, Sir.”

  “Of course, of course, if you decide to, dessert is on the house. Have a wonderful evening. Lawrence, come take these customers’ drink orders.”

  “Yes sir.” And our server showed up, as I watched Mr. Roberto, I am assuming, and his chocolate lab service dog, Hershey, walk off. We ordered our drinks and our server went to get them.

  “Dave, Sunshine didn’t even flinch when that other dog came around.”

  “Because she’s trained not to. While in her vest she has a job to do, which doesn’t include noticing other dogs. By the way, you’re doing great tonight. I’m beginning to see the old Lily again.”

  “And, Dave, that means . . .”

  “That means that I’m beginning to see you come back to yourself. That’s all that means, and it makes me very happy to see that.”

  We both looked across the table, and Dave and I might as well have been invisible. Ally and Sam were enjoying themselves so much that we could have walked off and they never would have noticed. Dave and I looked at each other and grinned. I believe he had found a good match for Ally or at least it seemed like it from my viewpoint. Our server came back with our drinks and then took our order.

  I needed to know more about what I could and couldn’t do with Sunshine when she was working. “Dave, this dog treat Mr. Roberto gave Sunshine, how come he said it was for later when she wasn’t working.”

  “Well think about it Lily, Dog’s only get fed once a day even just as pets. Nothing is supposed to distract them while they’re working.”

  “Can’t I give her water during the day when she’s with me at school?”

  “Oh, yeah, you can give them water, but that’s it. As a matter of fact they have collapsible water bowls that you can buy to take with you. Just get her one of those and stick it in your backpack along with a water bottle and that should work and you have to clean up after them too. Make sure you have something for that. But you’ll learn all about everything you need to know when the training class begins week after next. I’ll be working there during break so I’m going to be your co-trainer for Sunshine.”

  “Oh, that sounds great to me. So I’ll get to spend even more time with you.”

  “Looks that way.”

  “You don’t sound too excited about it.”

  “No, Lily, it’s not that, it’s just that I wonder if once you’re better, you’ll not want me around anymore.”

  “Dave, that’s dumb. We’re best friends why wouldn’t I want you around anymore.”

  “I don’t know, I guess I’m just paranoid.”

  “No, actually you’re just Dave, and you’re just my best friend, and you just won’t give up on me. I appreciate that more than anything, so as long as you’ll stick around you’re stuck with me. I’m afraid you’re the one that will get tired of having to pick up my pieces and put me back together. I’m afraid you’ll give up on me.”

  He kissed me on the head. “Well I guess we’ll just have to be happy where we are right now won’t we.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.” He pulled me to him and hugged me. “One day at a time.”

  Chapter 13

  When Dave drove all of us back to my house, Ally and Sam exchanged numbers. Dave nudged me in the arm as he sat down on the couch with me and then Sunshine stood there waiting for her next command, she still had on her vest, harness, and lead. I reached down to take them off of her, then she shook her fur. It was like she was removing her work mode. I put everything between me and Dave and patted the couch and she jumped up there with me and was just my pet once again.

  “Sunshine, you were such a good girl tonight. You’re the best dog in the world.” I reached down and hugged her and kissed her and she licked me up my face again. She laid there and fell asleep. I laid my hand on Dave’s leg. He gave me his attention. “Dave, thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me and given me. I just wish I could repay you for what you’ve done.”

  “Continue to get better and continue to be my friend and that will be more than payment enough.”

  * * * * * * *

  Dave came over every day, after working at the clinic, until he left to spend Christmas with his grandparents. Sam had come to see Ally everyday too, and he went to his grandparents with Dave. I found out that Sam’s mom was Dave’s dad's sister. Sam’s last name was Carlton. Not that it really mattered, but it answered why Sam and Dave didn’t have the same last name.

  Sam and Ally had at least three classes together and in their discussions that night at dinner found out that Sam had wanted to ask Ally out for a while. Ally of course was thrilled, because she wanted him to ask her out. So they pretty much became inseparable during the holidays. Dave was glad that his plan had worked. He told me he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. I appreciated that, but secretly wondered who the girl was that he was so
hung up on. Really.

  Ally and I had a great Christmas. Sunshine even enjoyed the festivities. She was given a couple of presents too. I even let her have a sample of Christmas Dinner. I had been reading up on service dogs, things you can and can’t do with them, after I had given her some of Christmas dinner and then worried about her after I read you shouldn’t do that. I decided that I would never do that again. Dave had bought a bag of Blue Wilderness puppy food when he gave her to me and after reading, decided that I would keep her on that food, because she was so important to me.

  I missed Dave, but he called like he said he would and at least I was able to talk to him and after all it was only a couple of days. I was so excited when he came back home. It was a Saturday.

  I heard him coming up the stairs and dashed out the back door with Sunshine at my heels and jumped into his arms. He wasn’t expecting that, and quite frankly I wasn’t expecting myself to do that, I was rather embarrassed. But Dave being who he is just took it in stride, catching me in a huge hug. “Wow, if I’d known I’d get that kind of homecoming, I’d leave more often.” He smiled, I love his smile. “How are you, Lily?”

  I was very honest. “Now that you’re here, much better. I missed you!”

  He gave me a different brighter smile. “I missed you too Lily.” He bent down to Sunshine and petted her. “Hey Sunshine girl, how are you?” She licked him in the face. “Have you been taking care of Lily for me?” She walked to me and sat down right next to my leg.

  I smiled, “Does that answer your question?”

  “Yeah, it does. Sunshine heel.” She walked to him and sat down. He bent down and petted her again. “Good girl. Take care of Lily.” She walked back over to me and sat down next to my right leg. I realized then that he was giving her a command both times.

  “And you did that because . . .”

  “To make sure she hadn’t lost anything she had been taught. Have you been out anywhere with her lately?”

  “No, not since dinner the other night.”

  “Well, how about lunch? Are you hungry?”

  “I guess so, where do you want to go?”

  “I was thinking Zaxby’s, do you like their food?”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten there. How long have they been out here?”

  “Since late October.”

  “Well, that explains it. What else have I missed?”

  “I’ll tell you what. Since you have kind of been locked away, why don’t I drive you around and show you what’s happened around town since you have been . . . how do I put this.”

  I put my hand on his arm. “Truthfully.”

  “Okay . . . since you have been ill. Put Sunshine’s gear on and we’ll go. Do we need to bring Ally?”

  “No, she’s waiting on Sam. He’s coming by in about thirty minutes.”

  “Well do you want to wait on them and see if they want to go with us?”

  “Dave, do we always have to have someone with us?”

  That caught him off guard, but in a pleasant way I believe. He gave me his smile and then laughed. “Well no, I just thought you would be more comfortable if someone else went with us.”

  “It doesn’t matter to me. If you’re uncomfortable with just me, then by all means we can wait on them.”

  “No, I’m good with just you and me. Get Sunshine’s gear on her and let’s go.”

  “Okay, are you going to come in?”

  “Yeah, I will in just a second. Go ahead and get Sunshine ready.”

  I turned to go in, but something told me not too. I asked a stupid question. “Dave if you’re worried that the girl you like is going to see us together then we don’t have to go.”

  He laughed. “That’s not it at all.”

  “Then what is it. You look upset about something. Please tell me.”

  Dave took hold of my shoulders. “Lily, there’s something I really want, and I don’t know if I’m wasting my time on it or not. I would really like to think I’m not wasting my time, but I’m not sure. I think I see something there, but I’m not ready for another Brianna incident.”

  “Once bitten, twice shy, right?” At once my thoughts turned to him. “Dave, I have an idea.”

  “What’s that, Lily?”

  “How do you feel about a walk in the botanical gardens? I know that there’s not much in bloom right now, but it’s a rather large place and there are plenty of trails to walk down and it’ll be quiet. We can walk and talk and there are swings to sit on and little ponds with rock-walls to play on. What do you think?”

  He kissed me on top of the head. “I think that’s a great idea, but can we get some lunch first. I’m starving.”

  “Okay, sure, but only if you will let me pay.” He started to argue with me. “Please.”

  “Compromise, I’ll buy mine and you can buy yours, will that work?”

  “Okay, fair enough. Does Zaxby’s allow service dogs?”

  “Yes they do, trust me; I’ve searched out the places service animals are allowed. Go tell someone where you’ll be, so they won’t worry.”

  I went and told Mom and let her know where Ally was getting ready to go and then put Sunshine’s gear on her. As Dave and I walked out, Sam drove up. We waved as we walked down the stairs. “Well it looks like you were right about Sam and Ally.”

  “I love being right about things. It makes it easier to be right about other things.”

  “Dave that just sounds chauvinistic.”

  “Maybe it is, but I hope I’m right.”

  We climbed into his truck and I slid into the middle and put Sunshine next to me. “Lily, I bought something for Sunshine. Look in the back. It’s in the Christmas bag.”

  “Aw, Dave you bought her a present.”

  “Yeah, go ahead and open it.” I did and in it was a dog-sized backpack.

  “I didn’t know they made dog-sized backpacks. That’s so neat.”

  “Open the pack.” I did and in it was a collapsible water bowl, a water bottle and little booties for her paws.

  “Aw, you bought what I’d need for campus, but something tells me she’s not going to like the little booties. She has big furry paws, which should be enough.”

  “Yeah, I know, but it came from New York and you know how much snow they get in the winter, so some service dog owners put little boots on their dog’s paws to protect them from the elements.”

  “Oh, well I guess I understand that. But, we really don’t have elements down here in Alabama, except the occasional two inches of snow or the ice storm which shuts down everything anyway. People in New York laugh at us when that happens.” Dave started laughing.

  “True, but they’re there if you want to use them.”

  “Maybe I might try them just to see what she thinks.”

  “Whatever you want to do.”

  We pulled into Zaxby’s parking lot and parked. He heeled Sunshine and then helped me out of his truck; luckily it wasn’t as high as his Dad’s. I picked up Sunshine’s lead and she was up and ready to go. This time, though, instead of offering his arm, he took my hand, like he would his sister’s hand, but I liked it. It fit mine. I could tell that he was nervous about doing that. I guess he thought I was going to freak out or something. I didn’t and that pleased him.

  We walked in and of course immediately were stared at, it made me a little nervous, but soon I was fine. Sunshine didn’t react that time; she was getting used to my differences and was learning when she needed to react and when she didn’t. We were behind three people in line and I noticed that one little girl kept staring. It almost made me paranoid. Sunshine was sitting next to me waiting patiently. The little girl who must have been about six, reached out to touch Sunshine. Her Mom pulled her back.

  “No honey, that Dog’s working right now, we can’t pet those dogs.”

  I was surprised. Dave looked down at me and winked. The little girl just looked at me and smiled. “You have a pretty dog.”

  “Thank you.”

 
; “What’s its name?”

  “Her name is Sunshine.”

  “Oh, it’s a girl?”

  “Yes, she’s a girl.”

  “We have a boy dog at home, all he does is run around and bark at squirrels all day, or birds. There’s a bird that likes to sit in a low branch on our tree and make my dog mad, because he can’t get him.”

  I laughed. “Sounds like you have a good dog too.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Does your dog ever get to play or does she work all of the time?”

  “She gets to play when she’s not working. She just gets to be a regular dog.”

  “Well I’m glad; I think all dogs need to play. I’m Miranda.”

  “My name is Lily and I agree with you, all dogs need to play sometimes.”

  Her mother had picked up their food and she was walking to a table. “Bye Ms. Lily, have a good day.”

  “Thank you Miranda, you too.”

  Dave kissed me on the head, and then whispered. “Now that’s the Lily I know, keep it up and you’ll be back to yourself in no time.”

  I put my arm around his waist and hugged him. Then we were up to order. I placed mine and paid for it. I had to let go of Sunshine’s lead to get to my wallet, but she just sat there and didn’t even move, until I picked up her lead again. Then Dave placed his order and paid for it. They put our food out and he took both trays and we went and sat down. I guided Sunshine up under the table and said, “Down . . . Stay.” She did and we enjoyed our lunch.

  Throughout lunch I had noticed a couple of little boys. They looked to be about three and four, they were very active. Dave had noticed them too, it was kind of hard not to. We finished lunch about the same time they did. Dave took our trays and came back and about the time I guided Sunshine out from under the table and turned to get my purse they saw her and ambushed her, she froze and didn’t even attempt to bite them. They had run away from their parents. Dave handled it.