Tara Doggie is ten years old now. I remember the day she came to Guppy and Poppy's house as if it was yesterday. Mummy and Papa had been thinking about getting a dog for the girls as they were now old enough to take care of one. They also wanted them to have a friend who would share all their secrets, and all their fun times.
Mummy asked Santosh Uncle next door to keep his ears open (almost like a good dog might do!)for any news of little puppies who were being given away. 'Not a hairy dog, please, Santosh, not a very small one, and if possible, a male.' Well, Mummy thought a male would be a nice addition in a house with mostly females, and for obvious reasons she didnt want a very hairy dog which she'd have to clean up after. She wanted a big dog because she thought it would frighten unwanted people away.
Santosh Uncle visited one morning soon after. He was standing outside in the verandah with his hands behind his back when Mummy came out to greet him. He smiled and said, 'I can't sit down, I have no time, but I do have something for you.' Then he put whatever was in his hands on the table in the verandah. It was tiny, white and fluffy.
The tiny thing stood up and blinked at Mummy slowly. 'Oh, what kind eyes you have, you little beauty!' said Mummy and picked up the - yes, it was a puppy - at once. 'This puppy is a girl. And she will grow up to be a small, hairy dog' said Santosh Uncle. But Mummy had already lost her heart to the little puppy, who was looking happy too.
Papa came home for lunch before the girls were home from school. He was very happy to see little Tara exploring her new home quite happily in tiny puppy steps.
She was put into a small cane basket and covered with a napkin to keep warm. When Guppy and Poppy came home from school, they were told, 'There's a surprise waiting for you in the Jali Kamra!'
So off they ran into the room that led from the verandah. All they saw was a small covered basket. They knelt down and one of them lifted a corner of the napkin. Out came a little black snout, and an enquiring white face.
Oh, how Guppy and Poppy yelled with delight! What hugs and kisses Mummy and Papa got from them. How the two girls ate their lunch, or ever got their homework done that day, I don't know.
I do know that since that day, Tara has heard all their secrets, and wept with them over all their sorrows. She'd always comfort them with a special lick. You don't believe me? Well, I just read all this out to Tara, and she looked very wisely at me and said, 'Let it be. Children who've shared their secrets with their dogs will understand.' Oh, and she asked me to put in a big happy wag and friendly woof from her.
