Surprising Friendship Story - Lydia H. - 03/22/18

Contest: Winners

Surprising Friendship Story

Submitted by: Lydia H., age 11, Elkins Park, PA

Rag-Tag Furbag
    
I slowly trudged home, not wanting to face Mom’s wrath when she found out that I had a C on my test. So much for studying! To make matters worse, the eighth grade bullies had given me a bloody nose at lunch.
    
Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes drew me from my sullen thoughts. I shouted when a black-and-white ball of fur whizzed around my feet. The furball skidded to a halt in front of me and let out a loud yip!
    
The dog was scrawny and had black patches over his dull coat. His feet were caked with mud; his fur hung off his skin in bags, and his ribs showed, but I nonetheless instantly fell in love with the dog.
I remembered that I had some bread left over from lunch, so I pulled it from my bag for him. “Here you little rag-tag furbag, here,” I crooned to him. He snatched the bread from my hands, and I momentarily forgot about my test.
    
The dog followed me home. I didn’t think Mom would let me keep him, but when I walked inside she glimpsed him standing at the door. “The poor thing! It must be half dead at this point!” she cried.
    
Mom promptly fed the dog some of the dog food that we kept on hand for Grandma’s dog and gave him a bath. Then we got into Mom’s old car and drove to the vet. I laughed at how the dog stuck his head out of the window only after sniffing it tentatively.
    
The vet gave the dog a thorough checkup and told us that he had no illnesses, and no microchip—he was just starved and needed love.
    
We took him home and nursed him to health. I still didn’t believe I’d get to keep him, until Mom came home with a leash and dog bed one day, asking me, “What should we name him?”
    
Grinning, I thought: Rag-Tag!
    
Rag-Tag followed me everywhere, and the bullies didn’t bother me anymore. Rag-Tag was my best friend—oh, and Mom never found out about that test! 


back to Surprising Friendship Story Winners