Max and Lilly

She patiently waited with her father, her hair neat and clean and pulled to the back not much past 8. Her father a buisness man of some kind, bent coat playing on his lap, as his tie dripped from his neck like a long green paste. He had one arm tucked around the little girl on the bench made of wood that was harder than concrete to sit on.

The little girl kicked her feat back and forth, not yet able to touch the ground. She smiled and asked the man, "Daddy is Max alright?" pretty soon a man in a lab coat came out and approached them, "I don't think Max will make it through the night!" His voice was a sturdy rumble, one that choked the air with sounds. The man shook his head and replied, "Can you bring him out so she can say good-bye?" The Vet looked at the little girl and nodded with a grim smile.

The Vet walked into the back. It seemed like years had passed before he returned shuffling an old, weathered dog. The dog looked like each step was planned to cause as little pain as possible. "I gave him some pain killers to help a little," the doctor mumbled. The little girl jumped from her chair and hugged the dog. Max looked up at her and wagged his tail a few times as if saying good bye. She kissed him on the cheek and said, "I will see you tomorrow Max." She seemed pleased with her answer, and the dog tilted his head not wanting to ruin the girls day. The Vet looked away tearing up a little he told the father, "This is the hardest part of the job." The father who was clinging to his coat with passions of sadness said, "Lilly let's go mommy is waiting for us."

The little girl bent down one last time and kissed Max whispering, "I will miss you." The dog drew a sad face and licked the girl on the cheek on last time. The father stood and bent down he grabbed the muzzle of his friend like he had probably done so many times before and said, "Don't lose your squeaky toy."

The Vet turned and shuffled Poor Max back into the back. The Father and his Daughter Turned and headed towards the door. From the backroom there was a loud yell, "Hey sit!" Pretty soon Max burst around the corner and approached the little girl. He eased his head under her hand. Then took the time to lick her cheek on last time before calmly reversing his steps and walking calmly to the back. The little girl replied one last time, "I love you too Max!" The dog kept going un-waivered by the girls words. He walked around the corner, and the father, daughter duo walked away. Max never came back out nor did the girl return. All she knows is he is in heaven, and from a far Max watches her grow.