Sia and Mop

On her fifth birthday, her uncle gifted her Jack London's White Fang. The story takes place in Yukon Territory, Canada, and details a wild wolfdog's journey to domestication. Since then Sia loved reading about dogs.

Much before this; her dad had once gifted her "My big book on Dog", it had life-size pictures of various breeds of dog. She couldn't understand the details, but appreciated the glossy pictures as a kid. She touched them, adored them and smiled, looking at them. Last week she started reading it all over again and was amazed to know about Pomeranian, German Shepherd, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Yorkshire and few more.

Mimi and Kim were Sia's friends. They all stayed in the same neighborhood. They all knew about Sia's fascination of dogs. They gifted her Dog shaped pencil holder and a dog cut out bookmark on new year.

The exams were about to begin and Sia had been asked to spend less time with Mimi and Kim and study more. During one such day, Sia was taking a stroll in her lawn when she saw a puppy trying to slid beneath the main gate; trying to enter their house. Sia couldn't control her laugh. The puppy seemed to have a perfect commando training to slid through the gate. She loved him immediately. She opened the gate slightly , helping the puppy to enter the house. The way it was swinging the tail from side-to-side, it was enough an indication for Sia to know how happy the puppy was. She waved her hand over its fur and it kept swinging his tail. Sia managed to get some milk from mamma’s kitchen and fed the puppy.

It was of no fancy breed she read on "My big book on Dog", but it had spark in his eyes, which made Sia love him even more.

She knew her parent's reservation against having any pet, hence didn't try convincing them to keep the puppy.

Anyway, with exams knocking at the door, she could not afford to have a puppy around.

Half-heartedly she opened the door and let puppy go, surprisingly it was reluctant enough even to get up. Against all her wish, she lifted him and left him in the ground next to their cottage. She came back and closed the door.

She tried hard concentrating on her studies that day.

"Mop" that’s what she started calling him, for no particular reasons but that’s what crossed her mind while thinking of him.

Next day, same time, while taking her evening stroll she saw him again. Trying to slid beneath the main gate, like the same perfect commando; crawling smoothly yet cautiously.

"Mop" !! Sia screamed on top of her voice. She knew dogs have great smelling power and can identify the same place in reference with object or people.

Since that day , it was quite a ritual. Mop used to visit Sia in the evening and she used to feed him with Milk or Chicken stew. Sia always wondered how Mop managed to be so punctual. How dogs keep track of time.. was something she didn’t have an answer to.

Pic Courtesy : vetstreet.com

Exams were over. Summer vacations had started.

In the same month, Sia's dad got a promotion and was allotted a new house meant for managers. It was 5 streets down from where they were presently staying. When Sia got the news, she was heartbroken. It was impossible for her to imagine a day without Mimi, Kim… and now Mop.

Two weeks had passed since they had shifted to the new house. Sia’s parents were busy getting the house in order. With no school and no friends Sia tried confiding in her books. When she read about dogs. She missed Mop even more.

She looked at the gate of the new house, and started imagining Mop sliding beneath it. She felt she is actually seeing Mop. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief. It was Mop! Her commando !

It took two weeks , but Mop had found her out. Sia was elated. She hugged him, pinching herself to be sure it was no dream.

All the books that Sia read, said "A dog is always a man's best friend".

Only now she knew , why.