May 27, 2009

The Family Tree Straight Up With A Twist.

Dondi got a puppy. This was the deal: Walt has a buddy on the job whose Boxer had an unexpected litter, so one day Walt follows the guy home and picks out this little fella, who Walt and Dondi name Pug. Pug the Boxer.

Dondi is dog crazy, but she hasn’t had a pet of any kind since the day they stacked their New Jersey belongings on the roof of their old Packard and hit the road for destinations west.

Dondi loves Pug with her whole soul, and as he grows into his first year, Pug quickly becomes her best friend — which is lucky because he’s also her only friend. Dondi likes to whisper all of her secrets into the smooth fur of Pug’s side, as he stretches out on the rag rug by the front door.

Pug is a lifeline that provides the certainty missing from the previous handful of nomadic years, but it doesn’t last.

One day Dondi comes home from school and there’s no Pug. The night before, Walt was playing with Pug when Pug snapped and bit Walt, and that was that — Walt packed Pug up and shipped him back to the buddy at work.

Dondi is devastated and blames Walt’s frenetic wrestling and not her dear dog. Dondi cries buckets for days and days, but Walt doesn’t skip a beat, because Walt never skips a beat.

permanent link to post

24 comments

1. 1
   on May 27th, 2009 at 8:55 am
   dgm said:

   Please tell me Pug escapes and finds his way back to Dondi.


2. 2
   on May 27th, 2009 at 9:17 am
   Grandma J said:

   Damn that Walt! I hope Dondi gets Pug back.


3. 3
   on May 27th, 2009 at 9:35 am
   corrie said:

   Poor Dondi! What’s with Walt? i didn’t think he would be so unforgiving… especially for a puppy!

   P.S. Young-girl Dondi and our own Bossy look so much alike in this photo!


4. 4
   on May 27th, 2009 at 9:37 am
   aj said:

   Walt is turning into a horrible person. Poor Dondi. Poor Pug. What a rotten thing to do.


5. 5
   on May 27th, 2009 at 9:51 am
   Rosie said:

   What a bum deal!!


6. 6
   on May 27th, 2009 at 11:15 am
   Amy in NJ said:

   Poor Dondi!


7. 7
   on May 27th, 2009 at 11:26 am
   Momo Fali said:

   Ugh. The pain and heartache! Poor Dondi!


8. 8
   on May 27th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
   Caroline said:

   Nooooooooo, Walt, noooooooo!

   Damn frenetic wrestling. MENS! Grrrrrr.


9. 9
   on May 27th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
   foolery said:

   No winners here, so sad.

   Aside: was Dondi playing the part of Brigitta on that day? Because she looks just like You. Know. Who. (and they’re both so lucky for it). : )


10. 10
    on May 27th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
    Michele P said:

    SO sad! Same thing happened to my siblings and I as a kid. We lived for our dog Tania but she ate the wooden railing on our deck and she was gone when we got home from school. Awful!!


11. 11
    on May 27th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
    Fabs said:

    That breaks my heart.


12. 12
    on May 27th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
    dalgal said:

    My GOD! That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard! Can Dondi catch a BREAK already?


13. 13
    on May 27th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
    Deb on the Rocks said:

    I love your Family Tree. Love it.


14. 14
    on May 27th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
    Tami Wyatt said:

    Mean ol Walt. I don’t think I like him.


15. 15
    on May 27th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
    cynthiagirl said:

    NO! This is a terrible chapter in Bossy’s family history. Dondi sure is a pretty girl, though. Although unfortunately that’s almost never of any comfort when things go badly, is it?


16. 16
    on May 27th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
    Chicky Chicky Baby said:

    Dondi was right.

    Dammit. Now I’m all weepy for Dondi and Pug.

    Fer chrissake.


17. 17
    on May 27th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
    JK said:

    Please don’t tell Mr. Lootiatoo this story….too scary!


18. 18
    on May 27th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
    Cupcake Murphy said:

    Nothing worse than losing a dog. Its just a different kind of grief. Poor Dondi.


19. 19
    on May 28th, 2009 at 12:06 am
    Happily Employed Susan said:

    I’ve got a deaf, flatulent boxer for Dondi, I’m pushing her into my time machine now.


20. 20
    on May 28th, 2009 at 8:29 am
    teri said:

    and so the therapy sessions begin….


21. 21
    on May 28th, 2009 at 9:56 am
    janny226 said:

    I can’t take it!!!


22. 22
    on May 28th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
    Matilda said:

    Wait, there’s snow. I thought they were living in Amarillo. Does it snow like that in Amarillo? There’s nothing really good to say about Amarillo is there?


23. 23
    on June 1st, 2009 at 10:50 am
    Ginny said:

    Stupid Walt…


24. 24
    on February 2nd, 2010 at 9:25 pm
    Erica (A Yankee in Jawja) said:

    Please continue with the “Family Album with a Twist.” I miss the entries. ((