Read Online A Wife for Stephen by Valcine Brown - Free Book Online Page A

said,
“Come here, Boy,” that Thomas rushed up to her.
He gently licked at her hand and held his chin up for her
to
scratch
the
underside
of
his
jaw.
He
soon
felt
comfortable enough to lie down on his back and offer his
belly to be petted. Celeste had read that this was a good
sign of submissiveness. Having previously purchased and
read many books and magazines on the subject of pet
ownership and how to
select
your
pet,
Celeste
felt
confident that this was who she wanted to take home.
As she rose, Thomas again got into a sitting position.
He looked up at her with sad eyes as if to say, ‘Don’t you
want me?’
“Yes, I do.” Celeste had said to Thomas. Looking at
John, the gentlemen who worked the shelter, she said
confidently, “I want this one.”
“Excellent choice. I’ll go get the paperwork started. If
you’ll just follow me?”
“Well what about Thomas?”
Looking at Celeste with eyebrows raised in confusion,
“Thomas?” John asked.
“My puppy,” remarked Celeste while pointing at the
puppy she had just picked out.
“Oh,” said John. “We’ll come back when we’re done
with the paper work and you’re ready to take him home.”
“I don’t understand why we can’t take him out of there
now. He’ll be sad if I leave after just telling him that I
wanted him”
“Oh he’ll be fine. Besides, he’s a dog. It’s not like he
understands what we’re saying. Do you boy?” John asked
looking at Thomas.
As if in response, Thomas barked a gentle little puppy
bark which surprised John.
“Well, even if I wanted to let him out, we have a rule
about not letting animals out of the cage without being
confined to a leash. And I’d have to go all the way into the
office just to get the key to where the leashes are kept...”
Reaching into her leather bag Celeste pulled out a new
leash and dog collar. Smiling a smug challenging smile she
had and asked, “Can you take him out now?”
John blinked as if taken aback and stuttered, “Well, um,
uh, I guess so.” Taking the collar from Celeste’s hand he
unlatched the kennel door and stepped in to place the collar
on Thomas’ neck. After he had done so, Celeste gave him
the leash and watched as the leash was latched on to
Thomas’ collar.
The walk from the kennel to the office was the first of
many walks the two of them have been on together. Taking
Thomas out for his walks has not been just a source of
exercise; it also serves as a time for Celeste to clear her
mind of the many tasks and accounts that she handles at
work. It is a time for her to sit back mentally and look at
things from different angles.
Many times on these walks, she has found a solution to
a problem only to discover that the answer had lain right
under her nose all along. Once she was trying to come up
with
a
new jingle
and ad campaign
for
a
soft
drink
company. The owner of the company was a family man,
completely devoted to his family, and wanting to portray
that side of himself to his customers while launching his
soda company onto the pathway of becoming a nationally
known company.
Celeste was adamant about pursuing the account when
it was first put before the panel of upcoming advertisers.
The panel was given the opportunity to come up with a
jingle and a slogan overnight before it would be presented
to the big wigs for their shot. Vines and Robert’s had
always prided themselves on giving every employee the
opportunity to prove their ability.
And Celeste
knew this
was
her
opportunity.
She
believed that it could be accomplished without making the
familial image seem corny. While on an evening summer
walk two years prior, Celeste walked with Thomas to the
park. Upon entering, she observed a family packing up the
remains of a picnic.
The mother and her child, about four years of age, were
putting soda cans in a plastic bag marked for recycling. The
cans were that of the company she wanted to represent.
Quickly, Celeste came up with a jingle and a slogan.
Turning fast on her