“Come Here, Joe!”

I looked up at my new caretaker, the boy from next door. Black eyes, black hair, and tall, he smiled at me and led me into the house next to mine. I scrambled into the kitchen.

“Come here, Joe!” the boy called. I galloped to where he was and shoved my face into a bowl sitting at his feet. “You’re such an awesome golden retriever. We’re gonna have fun together!” As I listened to him, I wondered why I was here. I didn’t understand.

The next day, we went to a dog park. I looked around. Suddenly, I saw my favorite blue ball soar through the air and I raced it as it bounced on the sidewalk. My tongue hung out, and my fur flew back against the wind. I glanced at the boy and saw he was smiling, and I brought the ball to him.

One afternoon, the boy became sick. I watched with pity as he groaned in his bed and held his head. I knew what to do to make him feel better. I ran to the kitchen, where my bed was, and dragged my favorite sleeping blanket behind me. I walked back to his room, carefully offering the blanket with my mouth to him. He smiled at me and wrapped the blanket around him. I sat next to him and wagged my tail, panting happily.

As he got stronger and stronger, my loyalty for him grew. Finally, he could get out of his bed. I was relieved to see him up and well and had fun with him the next couple of days. We went to the park two times each day and enjoyed it very much.

A week after he recovered, my owner returned and came to get me. My owner petted me and thanked the boy many times. Confused, I followed my owner, but I whimpered and looked at the boy. I didn’t see him often, but still loved him very much. Over the years, many people were kind to me, but he stayed in my head and heart forever.