When you say 'I promise'

Its not just two words

It means something to someone

"A puppy!" Daniel exclaimed as he grabbed the pup out of the carrier case. He cuddled it close as the pups heart warmed at the look on the childs face. "She needs a name doesn't she?" Mom said as she and Dad smiled and held hands, so happy their son was so excited.

"Of course!" the little boy said looking at the pup who licked his nose. "Buckles!"

"Buckles, son?" Dad asked with an arched brow. "Why that name?"

"Because Dad," the boy said as he pointed to the forhead of the puppy. "Her markings look like a belt buckle. See the holes?" The family laughed as Buckles cuddled close to her best friend.

"I promise Buckles," he whispered to her that night when they got ready for bed. "I'll never leave you. Never..."

"A car?!" the now grown Daniel yelled with excitment as Dad dropped the keys into his sons palm. "Truthfully?!"

"Of course, son" Dad said with a large smile as he patted him on the back. "You deserve to have some driving time with your girlfriend." Dad nudged his son with a wink as Mom chuckled.

"You'll be back by 10 mister," Mom said with a large smile. "No exceptions!"

"You got it Mom," Daniel said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek and jumped into his new car. He took a deep breath of the new car smell just as a grown Buckles came running from inside the house. She had heard the ruckus and wanted to see what was so exciting. She barked and rubbed her head on Daniels arm but he didn't pet her or even look at her.

Instead, he pushed her muzzle ruffly away to close the car door. She looked up at him with a small whine and a confused look. He then turned his head to see behind him and backed out the driveway. Buckles watched him go. What was going on? Daniel always took Buckles on car rides. He never pushed her like that. He drove down the road as Buckles sat at the end of the driveway. He promised. He promised he'd never leave her. He promised.

"I can't believe it," Mom said to Dad as Daniel backed out the drive way, waving with his girlfriend in the front seat. Buckles was whining and jumping around trying everything she could to get Dad to let go of her collar. Where was he going?! His room was empty of his stuff! What was happening?!

"Our little boy going to university! Oh dear! I think I'm going to cry," Mom said as she sniffed back tears. Dad held her close as the car rounded the corner and was gone. "Don't worry dear," Dad said. "He'll be back sometime. He promised."

But he hadn't been back forever. Something about his girlfriend being allergic to dogs. But he would come to see Buckles ... wouldn't he? She had been his best friend for a lot more time than any girlfriend had! He wouldn't leave her! But as Buckles thought these things over she hadn't noticed Mom had clipped her leash to her collar. She stood up and bounced around, happy to be in someones attention for once. They walked her out the door and into the van where they shut the door with no words.

Her tail wagged like crazy. She was so happy to be going for a car ride again. Maybe they were going to see Daniel! But they stopped at a very weird looking and scary place. As they led Buckles out the car she heard the many echoing cries of dogs and other animals. Their cries were of "pick me!" or "no! Don't leave me!" She didn't like this place so she kept close to Mom as they walked through the doors.

It was much different inside then it was outside. For one thing, the cries had died down. It looked kind of like a verts office. Her tail wagged again as she looked around. She was different from many other dogs. She liked going to the vet. Dr. John was a very nice human and she loved to go see him. But this was not the vets office she was used to.

Mom and Dad were talking to a woman they called Miss. She looked very kind as she smiled down at Buckles. She then came around and felt Buckles legs and ruffled her fur, cooing and smiling. "Shes lovely," she said to Mom and Dad who tried to smile back but couldn't. "We'll find her a wonderful new home." New home? What were they talking about? Why were they giving Miss the leash?! Why were they walking out the door?! Buckles barked and pulled on the leash as much as she could but it was no used. Their car was backing away, just as Daniels had. Where were they going?! Where was Daniel?! He promised! He promised!

It had been weeks since Buckles had been left her by her loving family. She hadn't moved in those weeks. She just sat in the corner and she had to be forced fed because of the large depression she had gone into. Miss was still kind and she spent a whole hour just patting Buckles and telling her everything would be alright. But it wouln't help. Buckles was already fading away faster then she could grow old.

After four weeks of nothing but stares from other families a couple came in to the cage. She didn't look at them and they ruffly slapped her back, probably thinking it was a kind pat. She still didn't move until Miss clipped her leash to her temporary collar. Buckles followed slowly, a little wobbly after not walking for weeks.

Miss led her into the same room that Mom and Dad had left her but this time towards a big couple. They were both very round in the stomach area as they stared down at her. The woman was painted with makeup and bangles with rings on every finger. She patted Buckles ruffly again as the dog pulled away. "He's real handsome, ain't he Hanky-Poo?" the woman said with a toothy grin. Hanky-Poo nodded. "Well, the thing is ma'm," Miss said with a small smile. "Shes not a boy shes a gir..."

"Nuh uh missus!" the woman said with a glare. "This here is one fine fighting male. Ain't that right Hanky-Poo?" He again nodded. "We'll be naming him Razor," the woman said as she snatched the leash from Miss. "And that'll be final." They then walked out the doors, pulling Buckles along with them. Why did Miss leave her? She promised she'd find her a wonderful home. She promised.

This home is a lot different then his home with Daniel. Razor hadn't changed since he left the place with Miss. All he ever did was lie under the porch, a place that no one in the family of Hanky-Poo and Sugar Mama could find him. Thats right. They had three boys and they were rough. Their favorite game was push-Razor-down-the-stairs-game. They would shove Razor over to the top of the stairs and then all three of them would push him down. They'd laugh even harder if he cried out in pain then get bored and run off to tear apart their action figures.

There was no good dog food to eat either. Instead of buying special food for Razor they'd just give him whatever they were eating. One night it was chocolate cake and Razor was smart enough to up chuck it before it got into his system. This place was horrible. He wished he was back with Daniel and Mom and Dad.

One afternoon after a meat loaf feast for dinner Razor retired to his place under the porch. He could hear the boys jumping around on top of the porch, although they didn't know their dog was below. Razor looked up and was surprised and frightned to see a green eye staring at him. "Look guys!" the cackle from the youngest child was heard. "I found Razors hiding place!"

Fear swept through him as their thumping feet was heard coming down the steps and out on to the grass. He whined and tried to push his body against the cement foundation of the house but he couldn't. The oldest had already grabbed his paw and was pulling him out. They laughed and woo hooed as they jumped on top of him, body slamming and pulling his tail. He barked trying to tell them it hurt and that they should stop but they didn't listen.

That was when his eyes lit up with fire. His teeth was bared and a loud growl came from deep down in his throat. The boys looked at him with a confused way. He snapped loudly as they screamed and ran for the house. Razor leaped after them, grabbing the youngest's leg. He screamed out as Razor whipped his head around, still holding on to the bloody ankle. This was for all the pain and suffering Razor had to endure! This was for his family who left him! This was for a broken promise!

Bang! The bullet from a shot gun rang through the dry fall air. Razor fell with one last growl. He breathed deaply as he began to lose the oxygen in his lungs. But he wasn't Razor! He was Buckles. She was Buckles! She looked over to see the neighbours had come out to see what was the matter.

In the crowd was a man. He was tall but worried. He looked at her from a distance before slowly walking towards her. She couldn't hear anything else as he rubbed his hand gently along her muzzle and she knew who it was. It was her boy. Her best friend. It was Daniel. Tears dripped down his face as he rubbed the buckle mark on her forehead with his thumb. "I'm so sorry girl," he said as he wiped the tears from his eyes and her eyes. He put his head down as Buckles pulled her streath together. She put her paw on his head and talked for the first time to him. "No more broken promises...Daniel."

The End