It was December 25th of 2021

On a bright, snowy white morning

I awoke to the chatter of my younger siblings

“It’s Christmas everyone!”

I leaped out of bed, filled with joy, 

sprinting down the stairs leading to our living room

decorated with stockings, containing an assortment of little goodies, 

And a giant Christmas tree flooded with twinkling lights

And cute little ornaments

Just like an elf had vomited.

I peered under the Christmas tree

With the expectations of it being filled with loads of presents

But it wasn’t.

There was only one big lonely looking red box sitting there

The feeling of confusion and a sliver of disappointment washed over me. 

Where are all the presents?

I try to hide my disappointment and opened my stockings instead

Inside, I find some chocolate, 

a bottle of perfume,

some small little knick-knacks,

and at the bottom, I find a small little black, metal, bone-shaped thing

I held it up, filled with confusion 

wondering what in the world my parents gave me

The feeling of disappointment crept back into me

I glanced around at my siblings,

I know that I should be grateful for this

But maybe there is something else I’m missing

“Let's open the big one!”

Shouts my little brother.

I slowly trudged over there, 

not wanting to be disappointed even more,

but then suddenly, I hear a little rustle coming from the box

What was that?

I slowly creep closer to the box

My siblings and I all sit around the big red box

We open it and--

SURPRISE

An adorable, tiny little ball of fluff leaps out at us 

OH MY GOSH

IT'S A PUPPY

Our living room erupts with excitement and laughter

Filled with happiness and joy

In that moment, it felt like the happiest day of my life

And to this day it still is

Her name is Mochi

and she’s a small little white and tan pomsky 

With one eye blue and one eye brown

she is just a little ball of joy and excitement all the time

she always greets people with a wagging tail

and showers them with kisses,

her little paws jump up at you

asking to be pet

She loves food and cuddling,

as well as going outside and playing in the grass

She’s the happiest thing in my life

And as Edith Wharton says, 

“My little dog - A heartbeat at my feet.”