This is the first chapter of Angel Bumps, Paw Prints From Heaven (as told by Wilfred)
I knew the moment I sniffed her that she was going to be my forever mom. She was the one. When she sat on the couch I leaped onto her lap and nuzzled her neck. My friend was telling my forever mom how shy I was. She laughed and said, “He doesn’t look shy to me!” I licked her face. While they more talked about me, I nudged her hand to pet me.
My last mom moved into a nursing home and her friend took me in. I am a needy dog. I need a forever mom and a forever family to love. I knew I was sitting on the lap of my future forever mom. I just knew it.
My new forever mom asked if I could go home with her for a few days to be sure her other dog, Mattie, liked me. I was going to be super nice to Mattie! I licked her hand to let her know my intentions.
I could not believe my eyes when it was time to go. My forever mom had a car without a roof! I jumped right in and sat up front. This was going to be a great life! When we stopped at a red light, we looked at each other and mom had her first heart to heart talk with me. “Wilfred, I want to be your forever mom. I’ll take good care of you. You will have new family who will love you.” I almost cried when she said that. It was just what I always wanted.
When we got to my new home, my new dad was sitting on the couch. He smiled and me and said, “Well, look at you. Welcome to our family.” I jumped right up and licked his long mustache. I loved him already.
My new sister, Mattie, came out to meet me. She was shy at first, but I knew she’d love me soon. And she did. I am extremely lovable.
Wherever my forever mom went, I followed. I was not going to lose her. If she had coffee on the front porch, I was right there. I sat so I could see her face. If she went to the bathroom, I went with her in case she needed me. On nights she got up in the dark to write, I followed her to her writing room. I gave her inspiration. I slept on a carpet next to her while she tapped away on her computer.
I got to ride in the car without the top quite often. It was awesome!! My ears were blowing in the wind. I barked at people we passed. “I’m with my forever mom. I love my life!”
One day, the family’s little humans arrived. I wasn’t used to little people, but they loved me. So, I loved them right back. They petted me, fed me, and talked so nice to me with squeaky voices. I could not believe my new life was so perfect.
There were always little trails of cookies where they walked. They shared their potato chips. One for them and one for me, in that order. I crunched away. I was so happy. I licked their noses. I loved them so much.
They stayed at our house for a few weeks. I could never imagine my life without little humans now. Every time one walked by me I got a hug, or a scratch on my head. “Oh Wilfred, you’re so cute,” one little girl told me. Naturally, I licked her nose. The other little girl put her nose to my nose and laughed. I loved when she did that. Little girls like to hug a lot too.
Little boys like to chase me and rub my head and pet me. One little guy was just my size. We became buddies real fast. He gave me mini-cookies all the time; One cookie for me and one cookie for him. His older brother loved me too. He liked to hug me and take me on walks. My life was perfect!
One day my mom had a party just for me. They sang Happy Birthday to all four little humans, but I know the party was really for me. I got doggie ice cream that day! The kids shared pieces of cake with me too.
My forever mom loved me so much, she sent me to a spa every month. A spa! I couldn’t believe how much she loved me. At Bowzer Boutique spa, I got a bath, a haircut, my nails clipped and a pretty collar when I was done. It was heavenly. The lady there, Shelby, loved me too. She told me, “Wilfred, you are one beautiful dog.” I licked her nose too.
I love pillows. When I’m on the couch, I rearrange all the pillows to find the one I like best for my nap. Once I’m settled in, there is no moving me…unless my forever mom sits on the other couch. I immediately go put my head on her lap. Then I fall fast asleep while she pets me.
Some nights when my mom can’t sleep, I sit with her on the couch. I always snuggle as close to her as I can get. I know I make her feel happy. If I doze off I might snore a little bit. She doesn’t mind.
My forever home always toys for me. My forever dad would play fetch with me. He laughed when I’d skid on the floor. I always had a new toy. Some toys had treats hidden inside. They were my favorite. My dad would throw them for me and I’d run right back to him to play more. It was so fun! I never wanted it to end. I was dog blessed!
My forever mom felt my nose one day and it was dry. She thought I was sick. I really didn’t feel very good. We drove to the doctor in the car with no roof.
The doctor was really nice. When she called me over to say hello, I was nervous. She had one of those white coats on. I walked half way to her and ran back to my forever mom. The doctor laughed. After a few more tries, I did let her pet me. She said, “You really are a Wilfred, aren’t you?” She shaved my belly and did a test. She looked sad afterwards. I think she loved me too. I should have licked her nose.
Something was wrong because my mom was crying. Her face was covered in tears. I tried to lick her face and she hugged me really tight. I didn’t understand what the doctor meant when she said we wouldn’t have much time left together. My forever mom and forever dad both were sad. I felt sad too.
I spent the next week eating chicken and steaks, and lots of treats from the little humans. I took long walks. I slept on my bed next to my forever mom’s bed. Some nights I heard her cry, so I nudged her to take me out to the couch. I sat on the couch with her until she felt better. Then she’d carry me into her room and put me on her bed. That was the best feeling ever!
Mom and dad took me for one last ride in the car with no top late one night. We went to see that doctor who loved me. That’s all I remember about that night. Then all my pain was gone.
I was only with my forever mom for seven months, but they were the best seven months of my life. I never knew I could love a forever mom so much.
I’m in Heaven now. I know my forever mom really misses me. I miss her too. One night she and my dad were driving to the beach and I sent her a big white cloud of me jumping across the sky. I knew if she saw it she would be so happy. She yelled, “Stop the car! It’s Wilfred in that cloud. It looks exactly like him!” she laughed and then she cried.
I didn’t want her to be sad. One morning in the dark, she was in her writing room where I used to sit with her. She was crying about me a lot.
There was a little book on the edge of her desk, so I pushed it off and the page opened to a picture of a dog sleeping. He was wearing angel wings! She cried again, but then she held the picture to her heart and smiled. I was so glad she was happy.
I was so excited that I could still make my forever mom happy, I sent more signs. My name kept popping up: Wilfred University, John Wilfred, Wilfred Avenue. It was so much fun. She loved it.
I know she’ll always miss me. I’ll always miss my forever mom too. She really, really loves me and I really, really love her too.
p.s. The magazine that fell from my desk was Guideposts. The picture is featured below
You made Wilfred happy.