Oh, very nice POV ! I'm going to accuse you of hiding behind the coloquialism (ugh...spelling) of a letter to escape adjective duty though...hehe. I got confused on the first paragraph...too many "Dans" for me. But I figured it out after a fashion. (Slaps self). "...thrusted this dripping wet Blue Heeler puppy at me, then snatched it back, almost stranging it in his arms and cried "I'm keepin it! It's mine!" I think that's one of the best parts! I'll feebly try to explain why: It sort of sums up most of the story. DJ already lost his dad. The pain was so great he couldn't deal with it. Finally something comes along that's just what he needs to break out and he's so scared of losing it, too, that he is very forceful and demanding...even to his mother. Something like that. Thanks for sharing/"playing" with us. PS: Whut's uh Blue Heeler? Anythang like ar Blue Tic coon dawgs here in Gawja?