WHEN I WASN'T THE BETTER PERSON

I met Flora and her mother when I volunteered with the Special Olympics in Florida. I was assigned to Flora as her "hugger" which meant I would take her to the various events, make sure she participated and gave her a big hug and lots of praise when she finished each event. This was a cool job. Flora was mildly disabled mentally and was a pretty good athlete. She surprised me with her shy sense of humor and we hit it off immediately.


I met her mother Sally at that event also. Sally was also mildly disabled mentally. She and her boyfriend were farm laborers who lived and worked year round in Florida. Sally declared me her sister and Flora's aunt that day. We became friends and would visit briefly a couple times a month. I always brought treats for Flora and Sally who lead pretty meager lives.


One day when I visited, Sally was beyond happy. Someone had given her a minuscule chihuahua. This was the smallest dog I had ever seen. Sissy was a 2 and 1/2 pound, long haired, tooth pick legged, yapper. For as tiny as she was, she made a fierce racket. All I could think when I saw her was "better thee than me."


About a month later, Sally called me quite upset. She was having to move out of town and where they were going wouldn't take dogs. She wanted me to take Sissy. "You are the only one I would trust her with." she added making it impossible to say no.

I was in the middle of starting an animal rescue business and didn't need a yappy little dog but out of friendship, I took her.

Sorry it is an old picture and not too good. I was too busy in those days for photography. Sorry now I didn't take the time.



Few people like chihuahuas till they own one. Exactly when she crawled inside my heart, I couldn't say, but she did. Suddenly the yappiness was unimportant. She became MY dog. She challenged all human and animals for my attention.



At that time I also owned a 180 pound Great Dane. Loki and Sissy were my only pets, the rest of my animals were dogs to rebuild and find homes for. Sissy was not intimidated by Loki who was 72 times her size and he walked like he was on egg shells around her. They weren't companions but tolerated each other.


I had Sissy about 6 months when Sally came back to town. One morning she caught me filling up at a service station. She said she was back in town and excitedly told me she could take Sissy off my hands now. I was stunned. I thought I had been given Sissy, not just taking care of her. I stammered, hemmed and hawed and finally with tears in my eyes and words choking in my throat, I asked where she was living. I told her I would bring Sissy by the next day which was Saturday. I was sick at heart the whole day. I would cry, suck it up, then cry again. I was not handling this well.



When I got back to the office at the end of the day, there was a note on my desk from Sally. It said 'I see how you are hurting. Please keep Sissy and love her enough for both of us.' It was signed, your sister. The relief was overwhelming.


I had many dogs, Loki whom I adored, plus my rescues. Sally and Flora had no dogs and a rather bleak life. Were I the better person, I would have insisted that she take Sissy back but I wasn't and I didn't. She so out classed me that day. I accepted her gift gratefully if guiltily.


I asked Sally and Flora to come out to the shelter and pick out any dog they wanted. They selected a handsome little chihuahua named Bucky that I had rescued. I was ashamed of my relief when Sissy barked at her that day and would not let Sally pick her up. How small can you get? I did not like me but couldn't stop me.


Sissy stayed glued to me for 14 years till her tiny heart gave out. I think of her still and selfishly am so glad I wasn't the better person that day.