Unconditional Love

Samantha and her mother Sue were strolling through Cumberland Mall, when Samantha exclaimed, “Oh Mom! Look at the cute puppies in the store window! Aren’t they adorable?  I would love to have  a puppy.  Erica has a Cocker Spaniel. It is so cute.” “Getting a dog is a very big decision.” said Sue, “It’s like adding a member to your family. Do you think you have time to devote to caring for a dog?” Sammie pleaded,  “Oh Mom, I can do it.” Sue continued, “You have your school work, dancing and art lessons. They take so much of your time.” Sammie continued her pleading, “I know, but I would take good care of a puppy. Pleeeese.” “Well, we can talk about it later, Sammie.” Sue answered, “We need to get to Macy’s and pick out some school clothes.”

Samantha had been very lonely since her best friend, Nattily had moved to Seattle. She had friends at school, but Nattily had lived next door since they were toddlers. They  played Monopoly and Scrabble, did each others hair and said the same thing at the same time. They were like sisters.  No, Sammie would  never have a friend she loved like Nattily. They kept in touch by e-mail, but that is not the same as being together. Sammie’s dad was a foreign correspondent with the American News Service. He had been in the far east for three years. He came home for the holidays, but he could only stay a few days. When he went back, Sammie missed him more than ever.

After history class on Friday, Julie came up to Sammie and ask if she would like to come for a sleep over Saturday night. Sammie said she would have to ask her mother, but if Mom approved, she would love to. Sammie was now ten and her mother would probably let her go to the sleep over as long as there was a parent there.  That evening during dinner Sammie asked her mother about the sleep over. Sue anwered, "If you can be home in time for Church Sunday morning, it will be  OK." Saturday morning Samantha walked to the dry cleaners to take her mother's suit to be cleaned. She saw a classmate, Doris walking her Miniature Schnauzer. “Hi Doris! What a cute dog! He is so elegant with his beard and eyebrows. He looks like a professor.” said Sammie. “Thanks!” said Doris, “I’m on the way to take him to the Pampered Pet Grooming Shop for a bath and trim. He goes every two weeks. They bathe him and trim his leg furnishings and  his eyebrows. They hand strip his coat every few months. He loves his grooming. He shows me how good he feels by running in circles and giving me kisses. He is always a happy dog” Doris smiled. “Hand stripping? What does that mean?” asked Sammie.  “Well,” Doris answered, “They pull out the old coat on his body and head and the new coat comes in with better texture, color and fit. Oh! Don’t worry. It doesn’t  hurt him. Schnauzers and a lot of  terriers have broken coats. When a broken coat  grows long and fuzzy the coat becomes lose. If  the coat should become caught in briars or bushes, it would come out easily and allow them to escape. The new coat has already begun to grow in underneath, but it will not come in thick and healthy unless the old one has  been removed by stripping.”  Sammie frowns and says, “I have friends that have their long coated dogs clipped. Can you clip a Miniature Schnauzer?”  Doris replied, “Yes, some peop