The Present By Paige S-B

Hhhhh. What to do, what to do? Sit on the couch and do nothing I can tick that off my list. I hear the time go by. Tick tock, tick tock. Ring, that’s my phone.

It’s my parents on the phone. They want me to walk over to their house. I’ve been living on my own for five years now. I love being independent, but it can get lonely sometimes. I find my cane and begin my walk to my parents. Mum welcomes me in. I go to hug her but instead I feel something hard, cold, straight. That’s not my mum.

What can this be? I feel it again. It’s square, feels smooth like cardboard, is it a box? Mum opens it for me. I reach in and … OMG it’s a dog. Wait! It’s a guide dog I can feel it’s coat. I hold it’s lead and walk around. Guess what? I don’t bump into anything. Mum says he might be a little pushy at first. I wonder what she means? I walk home I’m so excited I forget my cane.

My life is at a much faster pace now that I live with a guide dog. I go to order my groceries on my voice computer. My dog stops me he barks loudly, complaining, he picks up his lead and pushes it into my hand. I guess that’s a strong message to actually go to the grocery store. To buy food. What a new experience for me.

Three months later… We walk out the door and I LOVE IT. The fresh air, the space, the feeling. I LOVE IT. The luscious green tree leaves sway over my head as I walk through the park. I sit down on the green grass and unpack the picnic basket. It’s always great to take a walk even in winter.

It’s awesome being independent.