Buster

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He was supposed to be a surprise.

When I was seven, I was a stubborn little brat (or more so than I am now). I loved to sing and dance, but I was also as shy as a kid could be. My mother wanted me to audition for the school musical, Annie. Whether it was simply because she thought I would enjoy it or if she thought it might help me break out of my figurative shell, I do not know, but regardless, she really wanted me to audition. She had even picked me up from school early the day of auditions so that I could practice beforehand. By the time 3 PM rolled around, and we needed to return to school for the auditions, I became panic stricken. My shyness and anxiety had hit me full force, and I had started to cry. I told my mom that I didn’t want to be in the musical— that I was too scared. My mother calmed me down, and told me that if I promised to go to the auditions, she would show me a surprise that her and my dad had planned for my siblings and me. I promised. She turned on her computer, and pulled up a picture of the prettiest, fluffiest, snow-white puppy I had ever seen. She told me his name was Buster. I was so happy. A puppy! Our dreams were coming true.

A few weeks later, we packed up the car and drove to Tennessee. My siblings, Taylor and Ashley, didn’t know where we were going or what for, but I did, and I was so excited. (By the way, I never made it to the auditions. Shortly after my mom showed me the picture of Buster, I started crying, again). There’s a really amazing picture of the three of us wearing Christmas sweaters and holding our new puppy outside the Wendy’s/gas station combo somewhere in Tennessee. To this day, it is still one of my favorite pictures ever.

Buster is a Goldendoodle, that’s part golden retriever and part standard poodle. In 2003, they were a fairly new breed. He was an overly energetic pile of fluff, and I loved him more than I had ever loved anything. In only a few months, he grew and grew and became the big dog that he is today.

Over the years, I have spent countless hours with Buster lying on the couch or playing tug-of-war. Whenever I am sad, he knows, and is right there to comfort me. When we were kids, we ran with him in the snow, and made him bark with excitement as we jumped on the trampoline. It really is true when people say “man’s best friend” because he is a best friend to everyone in my family.

One of the worst parts about college is that I don’t get to see him every day. In the fall of 2014, I was a freshman in college. It was my first time living away from home. I was in a new town, at a new school, surrounded by new people. I was completely overwhelmed. More than ever, I needed my best friend. I remember National Dog Day (Puppy Day?) distinctly because everyone was posting pictures of their furry friends, while I sat in my dorm room and cried. The first weekend home, I hugged him tighter than I ever had before.

It’s been nearly 13 years since we brought home our beloved pup, and he is still as energetic as ever. In his old age, Buster’s legs have begun to wobble and his eyesight isn’t as it used to be, but he still stands at the door waiting for us to come home and play a game of catch with him in the living room.

He’s my brother. He’s my best friend. He’s my Buster.

—By Casey N., 19, Cincinnati