I never took the dog out even though Uncle Will told me to when I got home from school.
I never took the dog out even though he whimpered and pawed at the door.
I never took the dog out because Billy smeared jelly in my hair at lunch, and even though Ms. Lawson helped me clean most of it up, I still feel sticky.
I never took my dog out because tears burned in my eyes and if I didn’t get to my room, they would all spill out. Uncle Will doesn’t like tears because they show weakness.
I never took the dog out because my two cousins Seth and Ryan never have to do any work in the house, and they get an allowance when I don’t.
I never took the dog out because I went up to take a shower. Uncle Will stormed up the stairs screaming before I even set my backpack down. His face got so red I thought it would burst. He kicked the LEGO house I built yesterday, telling me to stop messing around. It wasn’t charity, me living here. I had to earn my place.
I never took the dog out because I slammed my bedroom door and Uncle Will shoved me towards the stairs telling me to lose the attitude. But I tripped. I toppled down the stairs and I lay, splayed at the bottom. My whole body ached, but my eye hurt more than anything. I would have a black eye tomorrow.
I never took the dog out because Uncle Will had no remorse as he watched me gasp for air, trying to hold the tears back. Take the dog out, he said, and then he turned and walked away.
So I took his dog out. I clipped the leash on Bear and walked out into the chilly spring air. Bear ignored me for the most part until I tried to take him back inside. He tugged on the leash and whined. I hesitated, and then…
I let his dog go. The leash hung limply in my hand. Bear ran wildly down the street, his tail wagging as he went. I guess he hates it here as much I do. In that moment I envied Bear. Bear who lives on the streets now. Bear who had to hunt for food. Bear who will endure cold nights alone. It would be better if
I were let go.
Hannah Schadler is a Sophomore at University of the Cumberlands. She is majoring in Communication Arts and English with a Creative Writing Emphasis. When not at school, she lives in Lexington, Kentucky. She has won several awards from the Scholastic Young Writers Association and KET.
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