Mama's Visit

Mama’s Visit

Jenny Hays

The sun shined through Tommy’s window on a brilliant spring morning.

Normally, he would have stayed in bed as long as possible, snuggling deep between his soft sheets before he had to wake up and brush his teeth.

This morning, he jumped out of bed and rushed to change his clothes. Downstairs, he could smell Grandma making breakfast, while Grandpa was outside in the backyard with the new dogs.

The air was filled with the scent of pancakes and eggs.  He quickly pulled on his jeans and laced up his tennis shoes.

Today was a special day. His mom was coming to visit. She was picking him up at nine a.m. sharp and they were going to the carnival in town.

Tommy had been thinking about this day for weeks.

He and Grandma made a list of all the fun things he and his mom could do together.

Tommy grabbed his backpack and raced downstairs. He missed his mom and was so excited that he finally had a chance to see her.

He lived with Grandma and Grandpa, so getting to spend a day with Mom made it special.

It was already 8:50 a.m., Tommy thought, as he hurried to finish his breakfast.

Mom would be here in ten minutes, so he stuffed a giant mouthful of pancake into his mouth.

“Slow down,” Grandma laughed.

“Your mom isn’t always on time and even if she is today, she can wait while you finish your breakfast,” Grandma cautioned.

“Mom said she’d be here right at nine, sharp,” Tommy said as he washed down his pancake with orange juice.

As Tommy was nibbling on the end of a piece of bacon, the phone rang. Grandma reached quickly for the phone and looked at the Caller ID display.

“Tommy, why don’t you go outside with Grandpa and help with the puppies,” she said.

“I don’t want to miss Mom,” Tommy protested.

“It’s OK,” Grandma said softly. “Just go outside and I’ll be out in a minute.”

Tommy walked out to go find Grandpa. He found him in the shed. Two weeks ago, they had taken in a mama dog from the shelter for foster care. Grandpa explained that they would not keep the dogs forever, but would care for the mama until she had her puppies. They would train them until they could find a forever home. She had the puppies last week.

Grandpa was standing near the pups looking concerned. The mama dog, which they had named, Della, was in the corner of the bed they had made for her. The puppies were snuggled in the opposite corner, asleep. Della growled a little bit when Tommy came close. One of the puppies had a small bandage around its paw.

“Stay back, honey,” Grandpa cautioned.

“This mama dog is having a hard time learning to care for these puppies,” he said while keeping his eyes on Della.

“What happened to that one?” Tommy asked.

“The mama nipped it,” Grandpa said sadly.

Tommy gasped.

“It’s OK,” Grandpa said quickly.

“He is perfectly fine. Just a little scrape.”

But Tommy could tell that Grandpa was worried about Della and her pups.

From across the yard, Grandma came from inside. She knelt down in front of Tommy.

“Honey, I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

Already Tommy could feel a lump form in his throat and tears build up in his eyes.

“That was your mom. She said she is very sorry, but she isn’t going to be able to take you to the carnival today. She said that she will try to make it up to you another time.”

“That’s what she always says!” Tommy yelled as he ran to his bedroom, sobbing.

Grandpa was only a few steps behind him as he lay flopped over his bed.

He spoke softly, “Can we talk?” Grandpa asked, tissues in his hand.

“I know why she isn’t coming,” Tommy said quietly.

“Why?” Grandpa asked.

“Last time she came for a visit, I wanted ice cream,” Tommy sniffed. “She said no because it would spoil my supper. I got very mad and I cried and made things very hard for her. That’s why she doesn’t want to come and take me to the carnival today.”

Grandpa looked at Tommy, his eyes filled with tears.  

“I could tell you a hundred times that this isn’t your fault,”he said sadly, “but you wouldn’t really believe it in your heart,” he said.

“I can only show you.  Come with me,” he said.

Grandpa and Tommy walked outside back to the shed.

“Do you remember Mr. and Mrs. Peterson?” Grandpa asked.

“Are they the couple that trains dogs?” Tommy sniffed.

“Yes, they were the ones that asked us to help with the puppies. I called them this morning and told them that Della is having a hard time being a good mama to the pups. They agreed that she needs more training before she is ready.”

“Doesn’t she love her puppies?” Tommy asked.

“Of course she does,” Grandpa said. “She loves them very much.”

“But do you remember how we rescued Della from the shelter?” Grandpa asked.

“Yes,” the boy said sadly.

“Della was never taught how to be a good mama to her pups. She never had any training and no one ever showed her how to be a good mama and a better dog,” Grandpa explained.

“She just doesn’t know any better. It’s all she knows how to do. That’s why Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are coming to get her. They are going to teach her the things that she needs to know to be kind and gentle,” Grandpa said.

“Will we ever see her again?” Tommy asked.

“I think so,” Grandpa said. “In the meantime, she has a lot of work to do and so do we.”

“What do you mean?” Tommy asked.

“Well, since these puppies mama will be away getting better, we need to love them as they grow up. We will have to feed them with tiny bottles until they are old enough to eat and drink on their own,” Grandpa said.

From across the yard, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson walked to the shelter, carrying a leash.

“Hi, John, this is my grandson Tommy,” Grandpa said.

Mr. Peterson patted Tommy on the shoulder.

“I will be taking very good care of Della,” he said. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

“Is it like going to dog school?” Tommy asked.

“It is very much like that. Della will learn to be kind and gentle. She will learn all the things that she had never learned before. She is going to be a much happier dog. In the meantime, you will be helping me out by taking care of her puppies. It is a lot of work. Do you think you are ready for this?” Mr. Peterson asked seriously.

Tommy looked down at the tiny puppies, still sleeping in a ball on the soft, clean blankets.

“I am ready, “Tommy said.

“Grandpa and I will love and teach them everything they need to know,” Tommy said.

Mr. Peterson carefully put a leash over Della’s head and led her away. Tommy hoped that the next time he saw her she was a much happier dog. He was confident Mr. and Mrs. Peterson would help her.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson left Tommy and Grandpa a bag filled with formula and tiny bottles for the puppies.

“Well, now is as good as time as any,” Grandpa said cheerfully.

“Here, let me show you how to do this,” he said, as he picked up a puppy very carefully and putt he bottle in his tiny mouth. The puppy drank quickly, white milk forming at the corners at its mouth.

“Here, you try,” he said, “there are six puppies and we have to do this every few hours, so we’d better get busy.”

Tommy gently held a pup in his hands as he fed one from the bottle. 

He was tired, but he kept working all morning with the puppies.

When they all had been fed, two of the puppies, began crying.

“Are they still hungry?” Tommy asked.

Grandpa looked sadly at the pup.

“No, Tommy, they just miss their mom,” Grandpa said softly.

Grandpa picked up one whimpering pup and handed it to Tommy.

“Here, place this one against your chest so he can hear your heartbeat. That will comfort him.”

Grandpa did the same to the other pup. Soon, both pups were snoring and sleeping soundly.

“Why do they miss their mom when she was so mean to them?” Tommy asked.

“All pups are made to love their mamas no matter what,” Grandpa said.

“Are all mamas made to love their puppies no matter what too?” Tommy asked softly.

“Yes,” Grandpa said.

“But, it takes skill to be a parent. Our Della was never shown how to be a good mom, that’s why she needed extra love and help.”

Grandpa looked very serious.

“I was thinking about what you said about your mom not coming because of the way you acted on your last visit.”

“Yes,” said Tommy sadly.

“Do you think Della acted this way because the puppies were being too noisy or crying too much?” Grandpa asked.

“No, they are just puppies!” Tommy cried out.

“Exactly,” said Grandpa, “I knew I could never only tell you that you didn’t do anything wrong. I had to also show you. There is nothing in this world that you could ever do to make these choices your fault, just like it’s not these puppies fault.”

“So, it’s the mom’s fault?” Tommy asked.

“Do you remember how I said that Della never had anyone to teach her how to be a good mama dog, and to be kind, and gentle?”

“Yes,” said Tommy, “she just didn’t know any better,” said Tommy sadly.

“That’s right,” said Grandpa.

“Will she still love the pups and will they still love her?” Tommy asked.

“Always,” answered Grandpa quietly.

Four weeks later, Tommy woke up early as the sun shined through his window.

It was the first day of summer break. It had been a long spring, caring for the puppies and feeding them. Now, they were big puppies, happy, and ready to find their forever homes.

He loved playing with them every day after school. Now he could spend all day with them.

Tommy ate breakfast quickly again before heading outside.

“Slow down,” Grandma laughed.

“Those pups can wait.”

Tommy could see the puppies waiting for him in the backyard, tiny tails wagging quickly.

Grandpa and Grandma looked at him with a smile.

“Do you think we should tell him now?” they asked with mischievous grins.

“Tell me what?” Tommy cried out in excitement.

“We have decided to let you keep one of the puppies!” Grandpa said happily.  

“I can keep him forever?” Tommy asked.

“Forever,” Grandpa said, but Tommy was already running outside to play with his puppies.