Things had been changing for some time, the children were growing up, Cooper was getting old and slow, I tried to keep him moving but as the seasons went by it got harder and harder…then he was bitten by the snake. Stan the Man found him, then came that big sound and Cooper stopped moving.

I missed him greatly, he was my companion and always there even when the children went away for seasons at a time. They still played with me and petted me when they returned, I kept Stan the Man company but things were different. Everyone was away the day Cooper stopped moving, everyone except Stan the Man.

Things were different with the family now, I don’t know what it was, the children had been bringing different friends home with them and one day the mood changed, dogs can feel these things but I couldn’t do anything about it. I was there when they came outside and I took them for walks…anything can be fixed by a good walk…but nothing helped so I just stayed with them.

One day I could feel the change, they had exchanged lots of loud words and everyone had left…except for Stan the Man. He got something metal from the other house, the one that is almost his second home, and used that inside the house until the flames were well lit. Flames are beautiful but they are also frightening and Stan the Man wouldn’t leave the outside of the building. The children came hurrying back and got him away pleasing me greatly, they let the house burn, though.

We moved to one of the other buildings, I was still not allowed inside but the people were happier and one day my favourite child, Kate, came back. Kate had people with her, one was a little boy who came and patted me, he was nice and I knew him even though I’d never seen or smelt him before. I knew we’d be friends.