his morning, I arrived at work and found my telephone message indicator light blinking.  Pressing the message button, followed by my password, I retrieved the message.  On the other end of the receiver I heard, “Hi!  This is Sheryl.”  “That’s funny!” I think.  “It doesn’t sound like me!”  The message continued, “Don’t forget to buy Amber a dog.  She really wants one.  Please go to www.cutepuppies.com and just pick one out.  Okay.  Thanks.  Bye. This is Sheryl.”

How amazing!  I sounded just like an 11-year old!  In fact, I sounded like my 11-year old!  Did I just hear Amber trying to con me into buying her a dog?  Wasn’t it just a month or two ago that I bought her a flute at great personal embarrassment and expense?  What’s a mother to do?  I know one thing!  I’m not biting!

Dogs are wonderful!  Dogs are very loving!  Dogs are work!  As if to psych me out, Amber told all of my friends that I grew up with dogs and that she just knows that I’ll buy her one before the holidays.  Never mind that we just moved into a new apartment complex with an astronomical pet fee!  Is any dog worth that amount of money?  Well, yes and no.

Nevertheless, apples don’t fall far from the tree, and I still remember pulling the wool over my own mother’s eyes.  When I wanted a dog and I knew that my mother would not permit it, I didn’t tell her about it beforehand!  No way!  I pretended to buy one as a gift for my youngest brother!  I presented it knowing that she wouldn’t have the heart to make me return the dog.  She didn’t!  The dog lived for 15 years, and my mother never forgave me for the 15 years of dog duty to which I had sentenced her.  Hey!  It could have been worse!  Those years could have been dog years!  That would have been 105 years!

Amber’s mistake was in asking first!  Children always think that they were the first to think of a particular way to “get over” on someone when they want something.   Parents know that this isn’t true!  Now, count along with me, the untruths volunteered in hopes of my buying her a dog.  Amber said:

1.  I’ll walk the dog everyday.

2.  I’ll clean up after the dog whenever it makes a mess.

3.  A small dog won’t be any problem!

4.  I’ll totally take care of the dog.

5.  You won’t have to do a thing.  I promise!

6.  It won’t bark much!

7.  All my friends have a dog!  I’m the only one that doesn't!

8.  Cats are expensive; dogs aren’t!

9.  A dog will keep me company when I’m home all alone!

10.  I’ll never ask you for anything else!

Amber’s good.  She knows my weak spots and that I love dogs.  However, I know that I’m going to be the one who ends up doing many of the tasks listed above.  Just like my mother, I’ll end up taking care of the dog for the next 10-15 years.  Oh, I get the message all right!  Now, where is that delete message button?