Duringsummervacations,Iwouldvolunteeratthevet’s,soI’dseenalotofdogs.Minniewasbyfarthefunniest-lookingdogI’deverseen.Thincurlyhairbarelycoveredhersausage-shapedbody.Herbugged-outeyesalwaysseemedsurprised.Andhertaillookedlikearat’stail.

Shewasbroughttothevettobeputtosleepbecauseherownersdidn’twantheranymore.IthoughtMinniehadasweetpersonality,though."Nooneshouldjudgeherbyherlooks,"Ithought.Sothevetspayedherandgaveherthenecessaryshots.Finally,IadvertisedMinnieinthelocalpaper:"Funny-lookingdog,wellbehaved,needslovingfamily."

Whenayoungmancalled,IwarnedhimthatMinniewasstrangelooking.Theboyonthephonetoldmethathisgrandfather’ssixteen-year-olddoghadjustdied.TheywantedMinnienomatterwhat.IgaveMinnieagoodbathandfluffedupwhatwasleftofherscragglyhair.Thenwewaitedforthemtoarrive.

Atlast,anoldcardroveupinfrontofthevet’s.Twokidsracedtothedoor.TheyscoopedMinnieintotheirarmsandrushedherouttotheirgrandfather,whowaswaitinginthecar.IhurriedbehindthemtoseehisreactiontoMinnie.

Insidethecar,thegrandfathercradledMinnieinhisarmsandstrokedhersofthair.Shelickedhisface.Herrattailwaggedaroundsoquicklythatitlookedlikeitmightflyoffherbody.Itwasloveatfirstlick.

"She’sperfect!"theoldmanexclaimed.

IwasthankfulthatMinniehadfoundthegoodhomethatshedeserved.

That’swhenIsawthatthegrandfather’seyeswereamilkywhitecolor-hewasblind.

byJanPeck