Page 75 of An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love
Everyone gathers around near the dessert table as Gramps opens his presents. It’s dark now, stars just starting to peek through dusky clouds, so I turn on the light in the sunroom so Gramps can see what he’s doing. He makes appreciative comments as he opens a fitness tracker watch from my parents, a calendar from Trish, a shirt from Angela, some books, pens, and multiple pairs of socks. I exchange an amused glance with Daniel.
After Gramps opens the last present, a coffee mug with constellations on it, he starts to thank everyone for their generosity. Daniel clears his throat.
“There’s one more thing,” he says. Gramps looks around in surprise.
“I’ll be right back,” I say. Inside, my hands tremble as I hook the dog’s brand-new leash onto his collar.
“Come on,” I whisper. “It’s time!”
We trot out to the backyard, where people instantly start cooing about how cute he is. Gramps, however, just looks stunned.
“Gramps,” I say, “I would like you to meet your birthday present. He’s a very good boy.”
Gramps stares, mouth open, for such a long moment that my heart begins to sink. He doesn’t want a dog. This was a horrible idea.Poor Rex. Now he’ll be stuck with me, because there’s no way I’m bringing him back to—
But then Gramps falls to his knees and hugs the dog to him. “Waldo!”
His stunned look has morphed into one of boyish delight as he rubs his face into the dog’s wiry fur. My heart seizes when I realize that Gramps’s eyes have filled with tears.
Tears spring to my eyes too as I kneel down beside them. “I thought he looked like him, too! His name is Rex.”
“No.” Gramps shakes his head, beaming and rubbing the dog’s jowls. “I will call him Waldo Two.”
I laugh. “You can’t call him that, can you?”
“Wally, for short.”
“Okay. That’s better.”
My cousins and a few of Gramps’s friends rush forward to meet Wally. Angela shrilly asks, “Who’s a good boy?” over and over, scratching Wally’s hindquarters. I step back to make room.
“Well done,” Daniel says in my ear.
I turn to smile at him—and then I notice my mother charging forward, Trish trailing behind her. Their expressions are incongruous compared with the heart-eyed crowd around the dog. It takes me a second to realize that they look… mad.
“Mallory, can we talk to you for a minute?” Trish says, just as my mother hisses, “What on earth were you thinking?”
I glance at Daniel, who looks mildly alarmed. He shrinks back into the shadows. I don’t blame him.
“Umm… what?” I ask my mom.
“He can’t have a dog!” She gestures wildly to her dad. The way she says it is as though he’s an invalid, or perhaps someone who has completely lost touch with reality.
“What are you talking about? Why not?”
“How is he going to care for him?”
“Well, I imagine by giving him food, water, walks, love…”
“Walks! The man can’t even take himself on a walk.”
“He can, he just doesn’t like to,” I say defensively.
“And you thought giving him a dog would magically fix that?”
“Yes?”
Trish elbows her sister aside and tries for a more understanding tone. “It was really thoughtful. He’s a precious little thing. But I’m worried that most of the care will fall on—well, on Ellie. After Ron and I move and you’ve gone back to Seattle.”
