Editor's Note: Darlusz Zabagaiski, the Polish ceramic/plastic frog that lives in our house and serves as the household muse, is guest writing today's blog post:
I dunno. Dis Jackson, I dunno what to tink. Monday, Jeff come home, he got furry little animal wit 'im. Black curly fur, really, what you say, hyper. Jeff say furry ting is a called a puppy. Jeff say it name Jackson and it live wit us. Is cute. Still, I worry.
Matt come home soon, I thought. He fix this. I worry dis Jackson iz too much. Maybe Matt tell Jackson live somewhere else, I hope.
But when Matt come home, he all thrilled wit dis ting Jackson. He lay down on driveway with little animal and start play wit it. Matt no like me no more? I tot we team. I get sad. Maybe he want me leave? Where I go? I not like da other frog who can live in da swamp. I get cold. Scared big animal come eat me.
Finally, Matt notice I in corner and I no look good.
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Jackson the puppy and Darlusz the Polish
frog introduce themselves to each other. |
"OK, what's wrong, Darlusz,?" Matt asked, as Jackson, dat little black animal follow Matt, playing around Matt ankles.
I tol Matt why I worry.
"You worry way too much," Darlusz said. This is Jackson. He is going to live with me and Jeff and you for as long as we are all alive. Jackson is a dog. He's fun. He'll get bigger and a little less hyper in a year or two, but he'll still be fun to play with."
"But dare room for all us? I have to go live somewhere else? Where?," I asked.
"Why would you think that,?" Matt said. "There's plenty of room for all of us. You'll stay here. I told you from the beginning you can stay here forever."
"But you pay attention to dog. You just put me in corner and forget me, right,?" I asked. If you do dat, I must leave. I no want get in way.
Matt laughed and said, "No. You'll always be part of the family. But Jackson is going to need lots of extra attention, especially when he's young. He's a puppy, so he's like a little baby. We have to protect him, feed him, keep him out of trouble, and teach him how to live so he doesn't make messes and we all get along. But we'll all be a team. You included."
While Matt talk, I watch da Jackson. I little afraid of it. He smell me. Tug on da foot I hurt last winter.
"When Jackson get bigger, will he eat me? I worry. He has big teeth," I said.
Matt said he would protect me, and Jackson will be my friend.
I had other worry. "Will he eat bugs? I like to eat da bugs around here. I no want Jackson steal dem," I said.
Matt thought about that. Then he said, "Well, he'll probably eat a few. But we'll give him his own food. It'll be just like me and Jeff. Jeff and I eat our own kind of food, and you can have the bugs, which Jeff and I don't want. They'll be plenty for you."
Matt look at me. He see I still worry. But he good. He try to help. Here what Matt said.
"Remember when Jeff moved in? You worried I would blow you off. But what happened? We got much happier when Jeff came here. The added person, especially with it being Jeff, just made things so much better in the house. For a million reasons. It will be sort of the same with Jackson's arrival. Love, respect and friendship don't come in limited quantities. If you add more happy beings to a household, and you make the effort to support each other, laugh in the good times, help in the bad, the good vibe in the house, the love and warmth and trust just grows and grows."
"Yes, we'll all have to adjust our lives a bit with Jackson here now, but dogs like Jackson are innocent beings who will love and protect you unconditionally. He'll make you laugh, and he'll cheer you up when you're sad. Think of Jackson as a magic little animal that spreads cheer and kindness everywhere. I know you like magic, and happiness and good feelings, right?"
Matt smile at me as he finish da talk. Dis animal, Jackson, lick my face, like he kiss me. Den he hop around me, like he jump for joy.
I tink maybe Matt right. I be friend with Jackson. Maybe we have fun. Maybe da two of us can hunt da bug together. I give it try.
