"How to Overcome Your Fear of Dogs" by Allie King

At seven, you first try to stay calm. You confront Mrs. Robinson’s yappy dog through her metal fence. You know if Sparkles, the Chihuahua, bites you, at least you won’t die. You don’t show fear to the animal.

At nine, you go to Alby’s Grocery with your Mom. You catch a glimpse of the sickly brown Bernese mountain dog that wanders around your town. You become curious of the sad malnourished animal. He’s large…and he’s not trying to eat you. But, your mother drags you away, telling you, you’re crazy for getting that close to a stray; it could be carrying a disease.

At twelve, you don’t know how to react to any sized dog now. Until one day, your neighbor’s Rottweiler gets loose and bites a huge chunk out of your right calf muscle.

When you’re thirteen, you can’t even look at a dog without seeing with fear. You see evil when you see any dog
.
At fifteen, you realize not all dogs are the same; so, you ask your parents about getting you a dog.

At sixteen, your parents decide to finally get you a dog. You love the little pug almost immediately. With this dog all you can see is love and its determination to love you too radiating from its body. You pick the pug up and sit him in your lap. You look at his little wrinkly face and decide you need to give him a name. You go over names in your head until you find the perfect one. You decide on the name Smooshy.

You realize you’re supposed to be afraid of all dogs. You get ready for the stomach aches from fear, but they never come.