No sooner had David opened the driver side door than the front door to his recently purchased two-story, Southwestern-style home burst open.
"Dad!!!!"
"Amelia!!!!"
Amelia, David's nine-year-old "dog fanatic" daughter, crushed into her father with a full force hug. She had been waiting for this Saturday for a long time... 'In our first full weekend in our new house, Daddy will buy a new dog for you - a surprise, though. You have picked out all of our other dogs, so let him choose a breed,' Amelia's mom had promised when they were preparing to move just one month ago.
"Who is this, Dad?" Amelia spoke with a crinkle on her nose as she looked at the tiny bundle her dad was holding.
"Amelia, I would like to introduce you to CeCe, a one-year-old Chihuahua. She is a new member of the family."
"Bu..."
"No buts. The deal was I choose the breed. CeCe is loving, gentle, and has a heart of gold...so said the animal shelter. I love her and so will you."
Amelia never won a disagreement with her dad, so now she just shrugged her shoulders and said,
"Come on, CeCe, meet your new family," and she dashed back inside, leaving CeCe with her father.
CeCe's new family was small by human standards - Mom, Dad, Amelia, and Sebastian (Amelia's six-month-old brother). CeCe's new family also included three canine siblings that were not small by her standards - a jet black, seven-year-old Newfoundland named Sir Walter; a slightly overweight, six-year-old English Bulldog named Rory; and a hyper four-year-old Beagle named Jimmy. Everyone was bigger and taller than her and all were established within the family. CeCe may be loving and gentle, but with the size of her new dog companions, she would have to be tough just to get her little voice heard.
David followed Amelia inside, gently put CeCe on the floor, and whispered,
"Go on, CeCe, explore your new home."
With a light push on her rear, CeCe was off.
"Hi David! I didn't know you were home. I've been in the nursery with Sebastian since you left," David's wife said, walking down the stairs.
"Hello dear. I just got home a minute ago with our new pup. How is Sebastian doing?"
"Well, he still has a fever and cough. I called his pediatrician, but she said we are doing all we can do. He is sleeping now. I hope Jimmy doesn't get too excited over the new pup. He has been quiet all day, thankfully. Hey, where is this mystery dog you adopted?"
"The "mystery dog" I adopted is named CeCe. She is a one-year-old Chihuahua. A real sweetheart, this one. She is gentler than even Sir Walter, if you can believe it."
"Chihuahuas are so cute! But David, gosh, I hope she doesn't get scared because of her size."
"I think her size will win the dogs ov..."
Howling bark. Deep bark. Grunt bark. Yap bark. The dogs found CeCe and CeCe met the dogs.
David raced into the family room, where Sir Walter, Rory, and Jimmy had taken to sleeping at night, and found CeCe ready to take her claim in an empty corner that held a lone stuffed toy never played with. Her big eyes said she was on the defense and tough until her little voice was in fact heard.
"Boys! Calm down! This is your new dog sibling, CeCe. Be nice to her, as the three of you are to each other. You guys respect each other's spaces and favorite toys. So respect CeCe. If she wants to be in this corner, let her. And none of you have ever played with this toy. Let her have it. And CeCe..." David looked down to CeCe in shock.
"CeCe! You were so gentle and loving in the animal shelter. I didn't think you would be so tough and loud. You have got quite a voice to stand up to these big boys."
A sad cry came from the nursery upstairs.
"David! Can you check on him?! I'm making lunch for Amelia!"
"Okay!
"Sir Walter, Rory, Jimmy, CeCe...This is your space indoors. This is your shared space. Be kind to each other. The four of you are family. Now I have to go check in on the baby."
As David quickly left the room, a yap followed him.
"CeCe, stop barking!"
A soft paw touched the back of David's left leg. David turned and looked down. He was going to scold his new pup, but his new pup's eyes were trying to tell him something.
CeCe's big eyes said,
'I am a baby, too, Dad. Can I help your human baby feel better?'
David somehow understood. He picked her up and headed upstairs to the nursery.
David was still holding CeCe when he got to the nursery. He held her against the edge of the crib so she could meet the human baby. Then he placed her on the carpeted floor to pick up Sebastian.
"It's okay, buddy. Daddy's here to make you feel better," David whispered as he eased into the nursery rocking chair.
CeCe spotted a changing table between the crib and rocking chair and jumped up.
"CeCe, down!" David whispered.
CeCe stayed put and reached her right paw to touch Sebastian's back. Her paw moved as the chair moved, as though she - a Chihuahua dog - were petting Sebastian - a human infant. This soothing touch slowly lulled Sebastian back to sleep.
David quietly placed Sebastian in his crib, picked up CeCe, and whispered as he left the nursery,
"Miss CeCe, you may act tough around other dogs, but you do indeed have a sweet heart."
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