Those 70ish Girls

Jamie had to return to veterinarian school for one more month before the summer break. She and Arf were on their way to see Miss Bessie. Jamie wanted to have a conversation with her about Arf’s care…now and in the future. The more she thought about it, the more she thought Brad’s suggestion to share this amazing dog with Miss B, was a great idea. One that could work out for the benefit of all.

“Are you and Arf on your way back to school?” Miss Bessie was thrilled they had stopped by. It had been a long two weeks without Arf in her life.

“Yes, I have to get back today, but I need to talk with you first. Clearly, I owe you an apology. I have kept Arf from you and you from him for the past two weeks. You two love each other and that was hurtful and not fair. Please forgive me.”

“Of course, dear,” Miss Bessie said. “Arf belongs to you and for a while, you thought you had lost him forever.”

“Miss Bessie, if you’re willing, Arf and I would like for you to be a big part of his life. Brad suggested you could be Arf’s grandhuman. How would you feel about that?”

Miss B didn’t answer right away and Jamie was beginning to think she had offended her when she finally spoke.

“I would be honored,” she said. “I would like that more than anything in the world. I must admit when I thought I would have the total responsibility for Arf’s welfare, I was a little concerned. Arf is a young dog and is likely to outlive me. I worried about what would happen to him.”

“And I worry about him becoming too lonely when I’m preoccupied with my studies,” Jamie added. “Which brings me to our current need. Would you be willing to have Arf stay here for the next month? I still haven’t made plans for the summer months. I can’t think that far ahead right now.”

“You can’t possibly know how much that would mean to me,” Miss B said. “I promise to take good care of him.”

“Oh I have no doubt he’ll be in good hands…. I need to get on the road, but first I have something in the jeep that I want to give to Arf. Come on Arfie!”

Arf and Miss B followed Jamie outside. Jamie reached into the back of the Jeep and pulled out a beautiful, new frisbee for Arf and flowers for Miss B.

“Miss Bessie,” Jamie hesitated a moment before continuing. “Do you know anything about Brad’s family?”

“I’ve been curious about that, too,” Miss B said. “Busybody that I am, I asked Alice, his cook if Brad had inherited that beautiful ranch from his parents. She assured me he had built it up on his own. She said Brad’s parents and a sister had died in a fire when he was just sixteen. Apparently he has a younger brother somewhere. Alice also told me there was no finer man than Brad Humbolt.