“It’s summer, but here I am. A fourteen year old girl laying here staring at a ceiling fan. It’s hot, I am bored, my friends are all on vacation, and I still don’t have that dog.” I said, lying on the living room floor complaining to my mother.
“Well, how about you go for a walk or something?”
I sat up, “Mom, didn’t I mention the heat already?”
She crossed her arms, “Don’t give me that. There are plenty of trees in the neighborhood so just stay in the shade.”
“It’s 100 degrees outside!”
“Erin…” she warned.
“Alright, alright I’m going. Damn.” I muttered, “Don’t remember dad being this bossy.”

“Don’t even mention-.” I walked out the front door. Stepping out onto the patio, I glared at the sun as I grabbed my cap. Well, might as well go to the park. More shade there anyway. As I walked, I was grateful for the nice breeze that seemed to cool and calm me.

Damn it’s hot. I stopped as I was passing by a grocery store. I felt my pocket and pulled out some money. “Well, I got five dollars. Guess I could get a drink.” I walked inside the cool building and went straight to the little fridges with sodas in them. Grabbing my favorite, the orange kind, and holding the cold bottle up to my face, I got in line.

I was watching the couple in the next line argue over which detergent to use when this guy stomped passed me, shoving me in the process. Biting my tongue, I paid for my drink and left. Stupid mom, stupid dad divorcing mom, stupid guy, and stupid heat! I walked through the parking lot, greedily downing my soda, when I passed by a small, old car. Glancing inside, I saw something yellowish sprawled out on the backseat. I took a closer look to notice a small, golden retriever puppy. A smile grew when I saw his adorable face.

“Hey little puppy.” I cooed, gently tapping on the car window. I noticed no movement from the pup other than the small, quick movements of his stomach rising and falling. Remembering the heat, I looked closely at the car door to notice the lock knob was up. Wow, so the owner not only leaves a puppy in a burning hot car, but they also leave it unlocked… really?

Sneakily looking around me, I reached for the handle of the back door. The rusty door opened, and the air inside escaped. I backed an inch at the unbelievable heat mixed with a faint cigarette smell. I heard a lot of short pants coming from the golden fur ball. His eyes found me as he continued to weakly pant, a bright red tongue lying out. “Come on buddy; let’s see if we can cool you down at the animal hospital or something.” I said, reaching to carry him.
“Hey, what’re you doing kid?” I heard a man’s voice say.
“Eeep!” I silently screeched, banging my head on the car doorway. I looked at the old man walking this way as I rubbed my head. It was the same guy who shoved me in the store. He had black hair that was grayed significantly and a mean face. He also had a way-past-five-o’clock shadow. My eyebrows furrowed slightly, “How long were you in that store?”
“’Bout 15-20 minutes. What’s it to you?”
“Well, you left your dog in the car for too long, and he seems to be overheated.”
“So what s’not your dog. Besides, he’s just sleepin’.”
“That’s not sleeping, it’s exhaustion! You could have killed him!”
“This ain’t none of your damn business little girl. Now go home.” He said, nodding his head in the other direction.
“Excuse me?” I didn’t want to take anymore of this. Holding me back felt like keeping a bull trapped in a wooden cage painted red; impossible. I lunged at him and punched him right across the jaw.
“Ouch, you b****!” he said, grabbing me by the arm. Right away I felt the sharp pain as his fist collided with my stomach. I clenched my stomach as I fell to the hot concrete. I tried to ignore the pain in my gut, now mixed with the pain of my scraped up knees and legs, and grabbed one of the man’s legs. He fell with a slight grunt. I scrambled back up to the door and barely managed to pull myself up when I felt a hard tug on my hair force me back to the ground. The pain I was holding in came out in screams as he started repeatedly punching me in the face. I felt trapped as the tears escaped. I think I heard someone shouting, but my vision darkened, and I prayed I was blacking out. Moments later, it was certain I was.
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Beep… Beep… Beep… I groaned and move to turn the alarm off when I felt something tug on my arm, too tired to open my eyes, I shouted, “Can someone turn that thing off?”
I heard a small laugh, “Good to see you awake.”

My eyes opened and found my mother sitting by the wall. “What are you doing here?” I looked around and noticed a heart monitor, IV in my arm, and put the pieces together. “What are we doing here?”

She came over and sat on the edge of my bed, “Well, this couple in the store’s parking lot heard you screaming. When they found you some guy was attacking you. The husband started shouting at him and came over to find you passed out. The attackers ran away and his wife called 911. Sweetheart, do you remember what the guy looked like?”

“I… I’m not sure. I just remember that he was an old looking guy.”

“Do you remember anything else?”

I sat up in my bed, “I remember being bored, and that it was hot.” Hot… heat… puppy! “Mom, where’s the puppy?”

“Do you mean the one that was in the car?”

My excitement combined by words, “Yesyeswhereishe?!”

“Your father went to pick him up from the vet.”

“Dad came from Ohio?”

“Yep,” she muttered, “Unfortunately.”

A voice drifted from the hallway, “I heard that Jenny.” His footsteps mixed with the sound of a jingling dog tag excitedly dancing down the hallway. A smile re-grew on my face when I saw them both.

“Buddy!”

The pup’s tail pounded against my dad’s arm when he was picked up. He looked like a fluffy worm when he was walked over to me.

“I guess Buddy must be his official name now. It’s what the vets called him, it’s what I’ve called him, and now you.” My dad said, handing Buddy to me and stroking my head. “How’re you feeling?”

“My head hurts and I’m still a bit sore,” I looked at the pup and smiled, “but I’m a bit better now. What did the vet say?”

“They said that Buddy here got lucky. If you wouldn’t have opened the door when you did, then he could’ve had some more serious complications.”

Ugh, stupid guy. I won’t let him near you, okay Buddy?” I said, kissing his head as he excitedly wagged his tail.

“Well,” my mom spoke up, “you might be able to keep that promise. It’s illegal to leave an animal or child in a hot car in this state. It’s very likely that the owner of that dog can’t keep him anymore.”

“So… can we? I mean… you don’t want this adorable puppy to go to another creep do ya?” Right on cue, Buddy whimpered.

“Okay! You’re lucky he’s a cute dog.” She caved.
I would have jumped for joy if it wasn’t for the soreness and the IV in my arm. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

She came over and gently hugged me, “Just remember, you’re the one taking care of him.”

I pulled away and gave her a look, “Duh!”

She smiled, “Well, it’s been a long day so I think I’m gonna head home. The doctors want you to stay another day or two.”

“Ugh, you have to take Buddy don’t you?”

“Sorry sweetie, but at least you can talk with your father for a while.”

I looked to the other side of my bed, “Your staying?”

“Yes, for a few days.”

“Bye mom!” I said as I flung my free arm around my dad.
She picked Buddy off my lap and went to the door. “You two have fun.” She said, closing the door behind her.
My dad looked back at me,” So, what have I missed since I left?”
“A lot.” I said as I began my babbling that would go on all night.