I trotted along the sandy desert road to their house in Kumakwane, Botswana. Maybe this is where they live, I thought, and peeked my head in the window.
Yes! The people from church! They were nice to me on Sunday… I hope they will be here again. Gosh I’m so hungry.
Ah! They spotted me! Are they mad? Is it okay that I’m here? Ugh I don’t know. People make me anxious and scared.
One of the humans stepped outside and I bowed my head low to the ground, kept my ears flat to my head, and tucked my tail nearly to my stomach. I wanted to be as submissive and nonthreatening as possible.
Uh, a sigh of relief came to be when she sat down to gently pet my head. I wanted to trust her, but I had so many reasons not to. These humans can turn on you in a second. I never know how to make them happy.
She stood up and went back in the house, returning later. BREAD!!!!! Oh goodness, yes yes yes!!! I was hoping she’d feed me. My owners rarely do. They kind of expect me to find what I can in the village.
She pulled me close and I hesitantly allowed her embrace. I laid in her arms as she pet my tummy. It felt so nice. No one had ever done this for me before.
I came back the next day. And the next. And the next one after that. Everyday the same brown haired girl would feed me bread and pet my tummy. She was so happy to see me all the time, I didn’t understand it. Most people would just throw rocks at me. But this human really seemed to like me.
Whenever she saw me she’d yell “Sunny!!!!” No one had ever given me a name before, but this one sounded nice. I like how it made me feel when she said it. Like I belonged somewhere. Like someone actually wanted me.
We started playing together and she’d run. I’d chase the brown haired girl and stay close by her side, showing her how much I appreciated her. I began to really trust her. My head didn’t hang as low anymore. My ears lifted, as did my tail. And I felt a lot more confident.
I jumped up, laying my paws on her chest and giving her a few kisses. I wasn’t sure how she’d react, I’d never done that to a human before. But I was just so happy. She held my paws and wrapped her arms around my furry body.
So this is what it’s like to be loved, I thought.
Fed, cuddled, named, wanted.
These were things I longed for. Things I had always wanted. I didn’t really know they even existed in this world.
She talked about how much she loved me. How much she wanted me to feel like I belong. She asked me what I wished my life would be like one day. I couldn’t speak like her, but I tried to tell her with my eyes.
One day, I’ll eat food everyday.
One day, I’ll have an owner who loves me just because.
One day, I won’t have to live in fear of someone beating me.
One day, the children won’t throw rocks at me.
One day, my tail won’t live between my legs.
One day, I won’t have to sleep outside in the cold.
I heard her say the name Jesus a lot. I guess that guy must also really like bread and tummy rubs too if they were friends. Maybe that’s who taught her how to love so well. She made me feel important when no one else did.
If that’s the case, I’d like to meet this Jesus guy. I hope I can one day. Maybe when I’m older. Then I’ll see that brown haired girl again too. Yeah, that would be nice. And I’ll have more bread and snuggles than I’ve ever had.
One day, in that place she told me about, called heaven.
One day.
