A Letter

To the most adorable dog in the world (as every pet owner tells their pet),

I am writing a letter to you.

You have been with me for 3 months so far and yet you have already tamed me. Not only me but Dad, Mom, and Atsi too. I never thought that the grumpy Rio who didn't like pets would end up hugging you long and tight today. 

Do you know how you ended up being part of my life?

You are a gift. A very precious one from a person very dear to me.

That person made "uncle scrooge" Rio start liking dogs. (I'm sorry I still don't like cats). That person gave you to me. 

Do you know how much I prayed that you will survive and live? You and your siblings always got sick and three of your siblings died. Your first tamer and I were worried that you might not make it. But by faith, we prayed and believed that you will be alive and healthy.

And here you are now.

Do you know how you ended up with your name? I wanted to name you Little Prince to remind me not to forget what it's like to be a child even if I'm growing up. But Dad, Mom, and Atsi didn't approve of it since it was too long and common for them. Dad suggested Ascof since you kept on coughing during the time where we first visited you. I disapproved of it arguing that your cough will be gone away soon. So we thought about Aslan or Simba, but you didn't seem like them. Milo was also a choice since your future-wife-to-be is Kida, but I disapproved of that as well. Atsi and Dad suggested of Percy and Atsi and I agreed that your full name will be Persimmon (yes, not Perseus. Yes, not Persi).

I have a lot of thank yous to give you and I'm going to enumerate each of it now through this letter.

Thank you for showing me your "fortress" on your first day in out home. I was crying and I don't remember exactly what was the reason but I knew it was related to my person. You went inside the bedroom where I was crying, barked, and ran outside as if to say "Follow meeee". And there your fortress was with your proud, happy face beaming at me. I still have not tamed you and you still have not tamed me, but I appreciated what you did to make me smile.

Thank you for hiding behind my back and licking me when you know that I'm sad. Even if you end up falling asleep while listening to me spill, thank you for still being there for me. 

Thank you attempting your best to come near me when I call you when you're sleepy. You try your best to follow me around and stay close to me even if your body is telling you to stop and sleep. Seeing your effort makes me laugh and I end up going to you to hug you. 

Thank you for licking my tears away. Like that time that I was reading a box full of letters for my birthday, you licked my whole face and made me smile while crying. And that night where you cried as well because I was crying. You even stood up just to reach my face and lick away my tears. It's weird how you know when I'm crying. I'm sorry if I worried you with my coughs and tears.

Thank you for waking me or Dad up in the wee hours of the night because you know that we'll be disappointed when we wake up to find your mess lying around. 

Thank you for spending time with me. I enjoy it when we play hide-and-seek and chase each other around in the yard or anywhere.

Thank you for being a good dog when Dad and I take you to bath and when I give you your vitamins.

Thank you for understanding that you can't eat my favorite popcorn and that you have to be content with one bottle of yakult. 

Thank you for just being there for me. I wish you can always stay by my side. And although you like spending time with Dad, Mom, Atsi, and Mum too, I'll be secured in knowing that at the end of the day, you'll still choose me.

Thank you for bearing my long and tight hugs. I was surprised that you hugged me twice the other night. I needed that at that time so thank you very much.

Percy? Please know that I love you and I miss you a lot when you're not there (I even get Percy-sick sometimes). Please also know that I learned to be more patient, joyful, caring, and loving because of you. I mostly learned it during the times when you would cry because you can't sleep without someone beside you or when you want someone to wake up and play with you. So please continue to help me develop my character, okay? Remind me that what is essential is invisible to the eye. 

Thank you my Little Prince.

P.S. Please don't bite Mr. fox's snout. He's your frieeend not your toy.

Love,

Your Person.