"That was Daddy," she said excitedly. "He and Via are just down the block."
"He's not at work?" I said.
"He left early because he couldn't wait to see you," she said. "So don't take a nap quite
yet."
Five seconds later Dad and Via came through the door. I ran into Dad's arms, and he
picked me up and spun me around and kissed me. He didn't let me go for a full minute,
until I said, "Dad, it's okay." And then it was Via's turn, and she kissed me all over like
she used to do when I was little.
It wasn't until she stopped that I noticed the big white cardboard box they had brought
in with them.
"What is that?" I said.
"Open it," said Dad, smiling, and he and Mom looked at each other like they knew a
secret.
"Come on, Auggie!" said Via.
I opened the box. Inside was the cutest little puppy I've ever seen in my life. It was
black and furry, with a pointy little snout and bright black eyes and small ears that
flopped down.
Bear
We called the puppy Bear because when Mom first saw him, she said he looked just
like a little bear cub. I said: "That's what we should call him!" and everyone agreed that
that was the perfect name. I
took the next day off from school—not because my elbow was hurting me, which it
was, but so I could play with Bear all day long. Mom let Via stay home from school, too,
so the two of us took turns cuddling with Bear and playing tug-ofwar with him. We had
kept all of Daisy's old toys, and we brought them out now, to see which ones he'd like
best.
It was fun hanging out with Via all day, just the two of us. It was like old times, like
before I started going to school. Back then, I couldn't wait for her to come home from
school so she could play with me before starting her homework. Now that we're older,