Read Online As I Breathe (One Breath at a Time: Book 2) by Leilani Bennett - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Leilani Bennett
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this was their way of saying, “No!” Age has a way of teaching us how to twist our words in such a way so that the outcome tilts in our favor.
Looking back, I’m sure that my parents were certain that a puppy wasn’t going to magically materialize in my lap. Of course, what they didn’t know was that I had a few angels that could make this happen. I was about to get my very own puppy! This puppy was a gift from God!
I was so excited I almost forgot my manners. “Thank you so much! I’ve always wanted a puppy!”
“ Here, come closer so you can pet her—that way you can see if you two like each other.”
I glanced toward my parents again. Brett was still wailing his head off.
The man sensed my hesitation—after all most children know well enough not to talk to strangers. I certainly knew as much, but for a puppy, I was willing to break all the rules. The man was kind and reassured me that it was okay to come closer. He told me he had a little girl, too.
He explained that he had bought the puppy for his daughter as a gift on her seventh birthday, but she’d gotten really sick and went to Heaven—she was the same age as me. How awful! Tears loomed in his eyes as he relayed the story. A feeling of sorrow filled my soul too.
“I will give her to you if you promise to take good care of her for my little girl, Mandy.” His daughter’s name rhymed with my mother’s name. That was a good sign.
“ Oh, yes. I will. I promise,” I said, genuinely meaning it.
“ Cross your heart and hope to die, then.”
“ I will cross my heart...and hope,” I paused and said, “but I can’t say the die part.” I bit my lip, squinting my eyes into the sun. I really wanted the puppy but not enough to die for. I peered at the man, worried now he wouldn’t give her to me.
“ Okay, I guess you don’t have to say it all. But, if you want her, you will have to get into my car so that she doesn’t run into the street.” His smile disappeared into a straight line as he said the words. “Of course, I can ask another little girl if you don’t want her.” He frowned and drove the car a foot ahead of me. He was going to leave.
“ No. I do. I really do!” I insisted with strong conviction.
I rocked my feet on the edge of the curb, feeling a bit nervous about getting in his car. But, I wanted this puppy more than anything. So, I did my best to push any fear aside.
My heels slid off the curb and into the street, standing on my tiptoes, raising my eyes over the rim of the half-rolled down window. Inside I could clearly see the puppy wagging her tail, filled with the same excitement I’d felt.
The seat she jumped on was covered in blue vinyl, smeared with inky-red stains and holes that expelled dirty yellow padding. Pew ... I tried not to pull away as the stench of stale fast food, exhaust fumes, and cigarettes assaulted my nose.
My hand was on the door handle, and I could feel my heart thumping rapidly. I was only seconds away from owning a new little puppy.
In a fissure of my mind, I heard the loudest angel, the one I called Storm, rambling on about something. The other angels didn’t come around as much anymore. What Storm was ranting about was pure babble, if you asked me. He usually did this when I was having fun with someone other than him. So, I did what I normally would do when he carried on as such; I ignored him. I figured that Storm was jealous and had suddenly changed his mind about blessing me with the new puppy.
I also figured Storm probably recognized that the puppy would steal my attention away from his invisible presence. It wasn’t as if I could hug Storm as I could the sweet puppy. The puppy was tangible, and Storm was just a voice. Yep, if I could have seen Storm, I was sure he was a green-eyed monster. Until I had the pup in my lap, tuning him out was the only solution I could think of.
I pulled back on the rusty old door handle. When the car door swung open, the man leaped across the seat at
Looking back, I’m sure that my parents were certain that a puppy wasn’t going to magically materialize in my lap. Of course, what they didn’t know was that I had a few angels that could make this happen. I was about to get my very own puppy! This puppy was a gift from God!
I was so excited I almost forgot my manners. “Thank you so much! I’ve always wanted a puppy!”
“ Here, come closer so you can pet her—that way you can see if you two like each other.”
I glanced toward my parents again. Brett was still wailing his head off.
The man sensed my hesitation—after all most children know well enough not to talk to strangers. I certainly knew as much, but for a puppy, I was willing to break all the rules. The man was kind and reassured me that it was okay to come closer. He told me he had a little girl, too.
He explained that he had bought the puppy for his daughter as a gift on her seventh birthday, but she’d gotten really sick and went to Heaven—she was the same age as me. How awful! Tears loomed in his eyes as he relayed the story. A feeling of sorrow filled my soul too.
“I will give her to you if you promise to take good care of her for my little girl, Mandy.” His daughter’s name rhymed with my mother’s name. That was a good sign.
“ Oh, yes. I will. I promise,” I said, genuinely meaning it.
“ Cross your heart and hope to die, then.”
“ I will cross my heart...and hope,” I paused and said, “but I can’t say the die part.” I bit my lip, squinting my eyes into the sun. I really wanted the puppy but not enough to die for. I peered at the man, worried now he wouldn’t give her to me.
“ Okay, I guess you don’t have to say it all. But, if you want her, you will have to get into my car so that she doesn’t run into the street.” His smile disappeared into a straight line as he said the words. “Of course, I can ask another little girl if you don’t want her.” He frowned and drove the car a foot ahead of me. He was going to leave.
“ No. I do. I really do!” I insisted with strong conviction.
I rocked my feet on the edge of the curb, feeling a bit nervous about getting in his car. But, I wanted this puppy more than anything. So, I did my best to push any fear aside.
My heels slid off the curb and into the street, standing on my tiptoes, raising my eyes over the rim of the half-rolled down window. Inside I could clearly see the puppy wagging her tail, filled with the same excitement I’d felt.
The seat she jumped on was covered in blue vinyl, smeared with inky-red stains and holes that expelled dirty yellow padding. Pew ... I tried not to pull away as the stench of stale fast food, exhaust fumes, and cigarettes assaulted my nose.
My hand was on the door handle, and I could feel my heart thumping rapidly. I was only seconds away from owning a new little puppy.
In a fissure of my mind, I heard the loudest angel, the one I called Storm, rambling on about something. The other angels didn’t come around as much anymore. What Storm was ranting about was pure babble, if you asked me. He usually did this when I was having fun with someone other than him. So, I did what I normally would do when he carried on as such; I ignored him. I figured that Storm was jealous and had suddenly changed his mind about blessing me with the new puppy.
I also figured Storm probably recognized that the puppy would steal my attention away from his invisible presence. It wasn’t as if I could hug Storm as I could the sweet puppy. The puppy was tangible, and Storm was just a voice. Yep, if I could have seen Storm, I was sure he was a green-eyed monster. Until I had the pup in my lap, tuning him out was the only solution I could think of.
I pulled back on the rusty old door handle. When the car door swung open, the man leaped across the seat at
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