Sarah gave me a startled wide-eyed look. “Wow! That’s not anything I thought I’d ever hear you say.” As she drew in a long, lungful of air, she hiked her shoulders to her ears. “So, what’s your new plan?”
Bubbles floated in my stomach. I bent my head, and pictured training Colton as a mobility dog and for fun doing Rally competitions and running courses in Agility trials. When I looked into Sarah’s face, I knew what I was going to say was right on.
My excitement rose to my chest, and I had to let it slip out. “I’m not only going to train dogs, but I want to compete in dog sports. I have it all figured out. I did Rally with Sydney, and we were just getting the swing of things, before—” I inhaled as a sharp pain stabbed me in my gut. For a moment, I stared off into space.
Sarah didn’t say a word and waited.
I gasped. “I was saying, before he went back.” I smiled. “Now I have Colton. I can still work for Mrs. Brown, and earn money for lessons and the entry fees. All I need is a car and a driver, which I have. And no special clothes. I’ve researched how to make jumps and other obstacles. And Dad loves to make things, so I know he’d help.”
Sarah didn’t even blink as I spoke. “Just a couple of questions. After you return Colton, then what do you do?”
I grinned, and grasped my left fist. “I was ready for that question. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking this through. I will already know how to do Agility and Rally, and I’ll have all the obstacles made, and the next puppy will learn, too. I can keep doing it with each service dog until one day. Are you ready for this?”
With huge enthusiastic eye, Sarah nodded.
“Until one day, I’ll have my own dog.”
Sarah jolted upward, leaned forward, and slapped her hands on the kitchen table. “You’re really thinking of having your own dog? To keep?”
My head bobbled up and down. “Yep. I’m getting closer to wanting my own dog.” I paused and peered straight at Sarah. “I know it will grow old and leave me. But now I know I can handle being sad, and start over with each new dog that comes my way.”
Sarah nodded and smiled. “You really have thought this through, haven’t you?” As Sarah finished her sentence, the back door opened, and Mom buzzed into the kitchen. Startled, our heads snapped toward her. Sarah glanced back at me. I put my finger to my mouth and shook my head.
“Well, hello to you two. You look like you just got caught in the cookie jar.”
Sarah and I cracked up. “That’s just what we’ve been doing, Mrs. Ryan.”
Laughing, Mom stashed her belongings on the counter. As she heated water for a cup of tea, she chatted about her emergencies at the vet clinic. Then joined us at the table. “Yum. Any cookies left?” She peeked into the box. “Oh, my! You two have made serious dent in this package.”
Sarah and I waited to see how she’d eat hers. Without knowing we were watching, she pulled out a cookie, and split it apart. Sarah winked at me and smirked. Then Mom ate the one half with frosting, and then the other plain cookie.
I laughed out loud. “Now there are three ways to eat an Oreo.”
Realizing what we were doing, Mom smiled and said, “I bet there are even more ways than three.”
Then we experimented with new ideas on eating Oreo cookies.
Sarah leaned back in her chair, rubbed her stomach, and groaned. “I’ve had too much sugar. I need to go home. Thanks Mrs. R. that was fun.”
Mom moved to the sink, filled her teapot once more, and busied herself waiting for it to whistle.
Sarah glanced at me with shining eyes. She did a thumbs-up. I grabbed my crutches, and we stepped outside.
She hugged me and whispered in my ear. “You’ve got to tell your parents tonight. They’ll be happy with whatever you decide to do, but you can’t keep it inside.”
Chapter 44
Throughout dinner, I never said a word and shoved the food around, rearranging their places on my plate. Mom cleared the table, and I never realized both parents sat, staring, until Dad cleared his throat.
“Okay, T. Something’s bothering you, and we need to know what’s going on in that mind of yours.”
My eyes welled, and I wiped both of them at the same time. I repeated what I had told Sarah.
Their expressions went from worried, to confused, to maybe sad; but they listened. After a long conversation about why I was giving up my dream of riding on a college team, both parents nodded.
Mom sighed. “You have made a well-thought-out decision. And it seems as if you’ve chosen something you’re very talented at. But I hope you keep experimenting with lots of different activities. Some you’ll choose to never do again, but others will grab you and won’t let you go.” Mom cackled. “Do you remember when you begged to take ballet lessons?”
I crinkled my nose. “I was around six and after the first class I cried, stomped my feet, and fought going to class. You made me continue my lessons because you had already paid for the month. I remember not knowing one step of the routine and watching everyone else dance in the mirror.”
Mom shook her head slowly and giggled. “Ooo. You were never going to be a ballet dancer.”
Breaking up with laughter, I blubbered, “I was so terrible! Thank goodness you let me quit. I’ve always just wanted to be around animals. Then Mrs. B invited me to help at the barn, and of course, I wanted to be an expert rider. I pretended Gretchel was my horse, and taught her to follow commands and jump over bushes.”
All of a sudden, a bright light flicked on in my brain. My hands went straight to my face and covered my nose and mouth. I slowly twisted my head back and forth. “Oh. My. Gawd.”
Each parent stared back at me as my thoughts jelled in the silence.
“It’s taken me a long time to figure this out.” Blinking, my grin grew and grew. “Do you realize I’ve been training dogs since I was six years old? This is what I’m meant to do.”
Dad popped up out of his chair. “Be right back.” He wandered into the den and returned with a dog magazine. He flipped to the folded pages and laid the magazine in front of my damp face. “Look T. I had planned to make some obstacles for Colton to keep him busy. See? Great minds think alike.”
I glanced at the agility pictures, and Dad began describing how he’d make the teeter-totter and the table as he turned the pages.
My heart raced, listening. I stood and forgot about my crutches. Dad put his hand under my bent elbow, and balanced me as I hopped to the computer and sat. “I have to show you something.”
My fingers danced across the keyboard. “There’s a dog agility competition in Asheville, North Carolina, the first week of November. It’s only an hour and a half away. Colton can come inside the arena and watch the event. Look, these are videos of last year’s trials. Can we go?”
Mom’s eyes glowed. “Sounds like fun and another learning experience for Colton. Let’s take him on his first trip, stay in a hotel, let him wander around at the dog show, and go out for dinner. We haven’t been on a vacation in a while.”
I blinked back tears and felt the hundred-pound bag of sand fall from my shoulders. I would tell Mrs. Brown my decision. Chancy needed someone who would be better for her.
Even though I was losing another best friend, I had a sense of relief.
I drew in a slow long breath and let it out with determination. I’d be free to find my true self and blaze a new trail.
I could now put all of my energy into being the best dog trainer ever.
Saturday morning, I flung myself into the barn, ready to do my chores. My eyes zoomed clear through the barn and caught Mr. Simon standing in the middle of the stadium, coaching Heather. “Push your heels down. That’s it. Now keep them there. Steady your hands. Elbows in. Pretend there’s a pin in your head and someone is pulling you up.”
Hearing those familiar words punched me in the gut and robbed my bre
ath. I continued observing. Chancy moved with amazing precision. Heather did her dressage test, and Mr. Simon strolled to the fence to sit on the top rail and sip his coffee. So, Heather is going to a horse show with Chancy. I hyperventilated and wobbled to a bale of hay where I sat and hid my face under my hands. I gulped air, trying to calm my body. I had made my decision, but I wasn’t sure my heart would follow through.
Colton stood next to me, staring out through the same door. He pawed my knee, plopped his front legs across my thighs and stretched his neck to lick the tears dribbling down my cheeks. I stroked his soft fur and looked into his caring eyes. His ears flopped forward and the tip of his pink tongue stuck out. I smiled at his loveable face, his blinking brown eyes, and gave him a giant bear hug. As soon as I released him, he stared into my eyes.
“Yes, Mr. Colton. We have a lot of work ahead, but we’ll be a great team.”
Colton woofed.
I stole one more peek through the barn opening. Heather maneuvered Chancy like a ballet dancer. I stood and wobbled away from the barn. Happiness swelled inside my mind and body. I glided down a new dirt path filled with golden orange, rusty-red, and brown leaves, all in different stages of colors and designs. They layered the ground like a colorful patchwork quilt, growing thicker with the wind.
I unhooked Colton and we headed home. His eyes sparkled with mischief as speckled leaves drifted down. He followed one leaf at a time, swirling back and forth. He caught it, spit it out, and caught another and another. Growing bored with catching leaves, he concentrated on a fallen tree trunk blocking our way. He never missed a step and bounced over the log. I halted, and called him back with hand signal. He repeated another small leap, lifting his face to me with a silly dog grin.
Bending from my waist, I held his face to mine. “You are so smart! You already know what’s ahead, don’t you?” He never looked away. “And you’re showing off to make me feel better. Aren’t you?”
He popped up, circled, and sat, wagging his tail across the leaves and pine needles. “Mr. Colton, I can’t wait to see what you and I will accomplish in our next year together.” I tucked my right crutch into my arm pit, and threw my right hand forward. “Come on. Let’s go home and play.”
He jumped over the trunk one more time, twirled around, and waited to see what I was going to do. I flung one crutch at a time over the log, leaned forward, balanced, and then flung my legs across.
Grinning, I looked him straight in his eyes. “See, I can do it, too. We’re going to make a super team, and we’ll have months of fun ahead.”
Acknowledgements
First, I want to thank my readers and my SCBWI friends for investing their time in reading Seven Days to Goodbye and Starting Over. I appreciate your support, your comments, and your reviews. And to my critique group; Caroline Eschenberg, Jo Hackl, Landra Jenkins, Marica Pugh, and Carol Baldwin. I treasure our years together.
My stories developed because of finding PAALS. Jennifer Rodgers has helped me with research, and her volunteers and service dog owners have been gracious in sharing their experiences. It is often said, ‘Be careful what you say or how you act in front of an author. You never know when you will be used in one of their stories. Mrs. Brown is based on a real person. Because of her devotion to my daughter when she rode horses, I wanted to show my love and gratitude by including her in Starting Over.
Thank you, Sue Conklin, affectionately called the Puppy Nanny. You helped me grow as a dog trainer and enabled me to write about dogs. And a big thank you to Dr. C J McCormack, for your medical advice on Trina’s injury.
Cindy Koepp, my editor, deserves a standing ovation. She waves her magic mouse around the sentences and makes the words sing. Thanks Cindy, for all of your hard work and sharp eyes. My talented web designer, Sue Goetcheus, amazes me with her creative skills as she highlights my events, school visits, and writing life. I also want to send a big cheer to Sara Gracia, who designed my adorable cover. How can you not fall in love with Colton?
And to my publisher, Barking Rain Press, I appreciate your support and efforts in creating each novel. This has been a wonderful adventure for me, and I feel privileged to be working with you.
A big thank you goes to my children and grands who eagerly help me with ideas. And to my husband, Murphy, I am so lucky to have you beside me, allowing me to spend hours in my own world and pecking away at the computer. I did promise to take time to enjoy our next adventure!
Kayaks, here we come.
About Sheri S. Levy
Sheri S. Levy is the award-winning author of the Trina Ryan series. The debut book in the series, Seven Days to Goodbye, won in the Special Interest category: Service Dog Award in 2015 from the Dog Writers Association (DWA). Her magazine article, Scent with Love, won a DWA award in 2011.
Sheri is an active member of SCBWI and SIBA. After a twenty-five-year teaching career in special needs, she has remained active with tutoring teens in reading and writing. PAALS, (Palmetto Animal Assisted Living Services), has helped with her research on writing about service dogs and how they change lives. Sheri, in turn, shares her book proceeds to support PAALS.org. It is a special pleasure for Sheri to do author visits and teach writing workshops. When she is not writing, she reads, plays with her two dogs, listens to music, and hangs out with her husband and family. You can find more information on her website, on her Facebook page, and on Twitter.
www.SheriSLevy.com
About Barking Rain Press
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Seven Days to Goodbye
by Sheri S. Levy
Print ISBN: 978-1-935460-74-9
eBook ISBN: 978-1-935460-75-6
After Trina’s beloved dog dies, she swears she’ll never get another one. But then she learns about service dogs, and realizes that if she becomes a Puppy Raiser, she could train puppy after puppy and never worry about them dying. But like all great ideas, this one has a serious flaw: her first service puppy must be returned to his kennel at the end of their week-long summer vacation… and saying goodbye to Sydney is going to be much tougher than she ever imagined.
Trina’s last week with Sydney is made that much harder by her newly strained friendsh
ip with her best friend, Sarah, who’s become so over-the-top boy crazy that she’s almost like a stranger. Sarah is determined to have them hang out with every boy at the beach, but when a boy named Chase takes an interest in Sydney and Trina, it puts an even bigger strain on the friendship.
It’s hard enough to deal with loosing Sydney, but now she just may lose her best friend, too. And even if she manages to patch things up with Sarah—and figures out what to do about Chase—she still must face a daunting decision: is she strong enough to take on another service puppy?
Seven Days to Goodbye is the winner of the 2014 Planet Dog Foundation Sit. Speak. Act. Canine Service Award from the Dog Writers Association of America.
“Author Sheri S. Levy deftly taps adolescent themes of love, loss and friendship through the added lens of a service dog’s life-changing effects on her young trainer. A fresh twist on the familiar coming-of-age tale. Well done!” — Jennifer Leeper, author, Padre: The Narrowing Path
“Trina’s foray into the world of boys, friendship, and fashion while focusing on the important task of training service dogs strikes just the right balance. This canine-inspired coming-of-age tale is a poignant but fun summertime story.” — Val Muller, author, the Corgi Capers series and The Scarred Letter
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The Anthropologist’s Daughter
Starting Over Page 23