4 Puppies

There once were four puppies. Each was different, but each was good in it's own way. Each morning the puppies would awake to the sound of children as they walked by their puppy pen. "Choose me! Choose me!," each barked out loudly.
Afternoons were spent wrestling, digging, and doing other such puppy things. Days past and the puppies grew - each day looking for that special child to come who would choose them.
Scratch.
The largest of the puppies was named Scratch. Scratch was one of those puppies who was always the biggest and the strongest when all the puppies wrestled, and yet, he had an incredibly soft heart. Scratch would never do anything to hurt anyone. He often spent time talking with the other puppies when they felt alone or hurt. One day along came a child. Her name was Linda - Linda was young, happy, go-lucky, and carefree. She was excited for a puppy and immediately began playing with the puppies when she arrived. Something about Scratch stood out to her. He was big, but gentle. Linda decided that Scratch was the puppy she most wanted and took him home with her. Days past in bliss - they were best of friends - playing, laughing, and crying together. They spent the better part of a year together - everyday Linda running home from school to meet Scratch and play. There were few things Linda enjoyed more than Scratch and nothing Scratch enjoyed more than Linda. Then Linda joined the drama club at school. She began to see less and less of Scratch. She wanted nothing more than to be with him, but she just didn't feel like it was right for her to miss her drama meetings. Scratch began to try harder and harder to get her attention and there were days when Linda skipped out on drama to spend time with Scratch - but, afterward she felt bad. She didn't feel good about spending all that time with Scratch and not going to her drama meetings. Until eventually Linda's parents took scratch back to the puppy pen. Linda couldn't give Scratch the commitment he needed and it wasn't fair to leave him tied up in the backyard waiting for her.
Spud.
Spud was another puppy who grew up with Scratch in the same pen. He wasn't quite as big as Scratch but he was happy and enjoyed life at the pen. Spud had been taken by different kids at different times but always seemed to end up back at the pen - it just didn't work out with the different kids and Spud was sad. One day in walked Chelsea. She was unlike the other children - her and Spud just seemed to click. She came back to visit him in the pen, time and again, and each time Spud hoped more and more that she would take him home with her. Just when Spud had given up hope in walked Chelsea and told him she was taking him home. Joy filled little Spud's heart as he walked out with Chelsea - surely this would be wonderful. Days were spent together talking, confiding in, laughing, and enjoying one another. Spud was as happy as he had ever been. Hours flew by as they spent time together and it seemed that there was never enough time for them to talk about all the things they wanted to talk about.
Then one day Chelsea started acting differently - she didn't seem as excited to see Spud as she had been before. She seemed more aloof and not as happy. Spud tried to understand what had happened but couldn't seem to come up with anything.
Why could this be? Then one day, out of the blue, Chelsea told Spud that he would have to go back to the pen. "But, why?" he inquired, "What about all the wonderful times together, what about, what about..."
Spud was heart-broken. He didn't understand why this was happening. He felt alone, confused, and most of all sad. Chelsea still promised to visit him often at the pen and promised many more memories, talks, and laughs. But, Spud was still sad - why did such a good thing have to end? How could they possibly have as much fun if he wasn't with her anymore?
But, the day came and Spud returned to the pen.
Brutus.
Brutus was an extremely kind, soft puppy. His name definitely didn't suit his soft demeanor and attitude. He was the most carefree of all the puppies - nothing seemed to slow him down. He was often found in random and solitary projects where he was content and happy. None of the children who came to play seemed to suit Brutus - he was content being himself and spending occasional time with the other puppies. One day, all that changed. Brutus wasn't feeling up to his usual solitary games and on the recommendation of another puppy decided to play with one of the children he had seen so many times before. Her name was Abby. Something strange happened that day - it was love at first site. Brutus hardly knew what to do with himself. Having no expectations whatsoever of even enjoying himself he found himself utterly stunned with the amazing time he had with Abby. They both seemed to find each other hilarious. Brutus began to spend less and less time in his usual endeavors and more and more time with Abby. She was amazing - his new best friend, confidant, and joy. Well, the time comes, as you may have now expected that Abby decided to take Brutus home. For 2 weeks they both spent every waking moment together. Laughter filled the yard as they played together. Brutus was as happy as he had ever been. Then one day Abby did the unthinkable - she brought home another dog! His name was Gilbert. He was nice enough of course (Abby wouldn't have any of the other kind of dog in her house), but Brutus was devastated. He had thought that he and Abby were to be together - he didn't at all expect to be sharing time with Gilbert. Why had Abby done this? The next week was the hardest for Brutus - he tried to be as happy as he had been before - but he wasn't. He tried to spend time with Abby, but always felt that it was some sort of competition between him and Gilbert - each vying for her time. It wasn't fair, and he wasn't happy. The time arrived that Brutus had to be taken back to the pen. It just wasn't working out - 3's a crowd and he felt crowded.
Ricky.
Ricky was one of those charming puppies. It seemed he could charm his way into the heart of any child - and he did. The problem was Ricky never seemed to have any sort of attachment to them. He watched as the other puppies left then returned but never seemed to find himself attached to any child in particular. Until...
In walked Brandy. She was unlike any of the other children. She was intellectually challenging to Ricky. He couldn't just charm her into getting his way - and he liked it. Here was a child that he could attach himself to. She challenged him and he challenged her. Ricky found himself being more and more drawn to Brandy. They would have long talks that Ricky kept thinking about long after Brandy had left. This is new, this is exciting. Maybe here was finally a child that Ricky could see himself going with. For 3 weeks Brandy and Ricky would spend time together - almost daily - Ricky found life more satisfying when he was with Brandy and he looked forward to seeing her. One weekend Brandy didn't come - Ricky was worried sick. What could have happened to her? But then the next Monday she was back. "I had to go and visit another puppy pen to take care of some things," she explained. Ricky was just happy she was back and they had a wonderful time that day. But Ricky still felt a little unsettled. Something wasn't quite right. Why was she visiting other puppy pens? Wasn't this one the only puppy pen should she be at? Day by day his fears grew as Brandy spent less and less time at the puppy pen. Oh, she always had a good excuse for why she needed to leave early or why she wouldn't make it the next day - but that's just it - all of a sudden she was full of excuses. Ricky was distraught - he felt empty, discouraged, and sad. Then one day as Ricky was talking with another puppy he overheard one of the children: "Oh, Brandy. No, she doesn't come here anymore. She's always going over to that other puppy pen. I think she found a puppy over there that she's actually taking home..." Ricky stopped listening. That was all he could take. He ran to the corner and plopped himself down. "I'm done letting myself get attached," he thought. And there he remained, in the corner, saddened by the experience that left him hurt.
4 puppies. All a little less willing to smile at the children as they walked by. All hurt by those they had grown close to. All confused.

4 puppies, back in the pen
4 puppies fighting the blues
4 puppies start over again
4 puppies sad and confused