But Pa!......." I groaned.

"No buts about it!" I finally figured out I wasn't gonna get that squirrel I'd found in the Ozarks of Missouri. It was late spring. First time in a whole week it hadn't rained, so my pa said we'd go hunt'n since it wasn't gonna rain for three days. Least' that's what the News Broadcaster said.

"We come out here to hunt boy," my pa said, "not to look for a pet!" After a few hours in the humid hills, we headed back to the house with a few bucks in the back of our old 1950 Chevy my grandpa had passed down to my pa.

"Well," my ma exclaimed "that's the first good look'n meat we've had in more'n a month!"

"Pa got every one of em'." I whispered to Beth. We were twins.

"Well, Avery Smith, if you hadn't forgotten your......." I quickly shushed her, I hated being embarassed. I went out to the truck to see which buck had the most points. Beth followed me out, the screen door slaming behind her. I liked the big one pa had shot in the left leg. It was a ten point, too. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an a cud'ly little collie pup. It looked like a stray. I ran out to go get it. This was my chance to get myself a pet. I ran to the club house Pa made me a few years back an' hid im' there.

For the next few days, after school, I would run to my room, put my things up, and go set the dog loose. We'd run for hours over the hills. Every day I'd secretly get my b'b' gun and shoot myself a rabbit for the dog. I named him, Buddy. One day Pa announced he'd got a job. I wanted to leap for joy! The next day, I break the news about my dog to everybody. I was on the edge of my seat when pa started to say somethin.' "Well......." I interupted him "Can we keep im?' Can I Pa?" I asked gleefully.

"Well," he said. I held my breath. This was the moment I'd waited for. "Okay." "But you've got to clean up his business!" I groaned at that. But I was too happy to complain. I had a pet!