Narrative

“Alli and JD come upstairs!” my dad calls us with urgency in his voice.

​My brother and I look up at each other wondering what my dad wants. As we walk up the creaky stairs I start to wonder why dad tells us to come upstairs. I ask myself if he is giving us a surprise or if it is bad news. My body trembles like an earthquake as we approach their room slowly. We walk in and my mom is sitting on the bed next to my father. I look into their eyes that are red and watery and I realize this is not going to be good news. My dad pats the bed were my brother and I would sit. We sit down on the bed that was once comfy but know feels hard as a rock. The tension in the room worsens as the silence lasts. To break the silence I start to hum my favorite tune and just pretend that nothing bad will happen. Eventually, in the middle of the song my dad opens his mouth about to say something.

“Alli and J… um... we are going to... um... have to bring Bogey to the veternarian.”

​My face goes askew and twists and turns like I just ate a lemon head. I say “and Bogey goes to the vet all the time for check ups?“ My mom and dad sigh at the same time and my stomach begins to toss and turn. I know this isn’t good news.

“Bogey has to go to the vet for a while because he isn’t feeling well. He needs to go to a better place… to heaven,” Dad stammers.

​I feel my jaw dropping and my lip starts to quiver. I don’t understand why? How? When? I have so many questions but I know I can’t ask them. What is done is done. Bogey will, no matter what, get put down tomorrow. I look over to my brother and his eyes are watery. I know he is going to cry, and so am I. But I have to stay strong for him so he can see how brave I am and hopefully stop crying. My parents grasp my brother and I. I have to take deep breaths to stop the tears from rolling down my face.

“Okay.” I say. I can’t look at my parents anymore. I have to be by myself and I walk out slowly with my head down. I walk...