Gotta Be Strong

Beauty was old and had arthritis, we'd been watching her limp around for years. One day she was whining and writhing on the floor when dad discovered a lump on her belly. He and mom argued in the kitchen about what should be done; all I kept hearing was that she had to be in a lot of pain. Dad loaded her up in and took her to the vet, then called and asked mom to bring us there. I gently petted beauty as the doctor injected her with something. Her whining and heavy breathing slowed, then stopped completely. Dad and mom enveloped me in a huge hug, then we drove home without Beauty in silence.