Guest writer Fírinne McIntyre with her first piece for TPQ. It is a short homework story.
So I'd always wanted a dog. First, I'd wanted a little husky puppy. Then a golden retriever pup. But my dad hated the mess they made, so as always, the answer was an elaborately described 'no'. Actually, it hadn't always been an elaborately described no - that developed after the begging I'd done, but anyways.

So you'd imagine the sense of surreality I'd felt walking down the street to my house that Friday, coming in the door to find a dog's lead on the table, dog bowls on the floor, a dog bed in the sun room. I'd asked my mam if we were babysitting a dog, because I didn't want to seem straightforward about it, as I'd be embarrassed if it turned out the dog wasn't going to be ours. Mam laughed. "No..."

"So we're getting a dog?" I pressed hopefully. "Yes. Only if your behavior's good," she replied casually. Usually, this only happens in movies, but I literally cried tears and tears and tears of happiness. So I bombed her with catapulting questions, all about the unknown creature we were letting into our home. She gave nothing away. I told her I was going outside, to my friends.

As I walked up that road, I imagined what it would be like to wake up in the morning to a wet, pink tongue, licking me all over. When my friends came outside, I told them all about my new dog. "Oh, no way!" Ruth exclaimed in awe. "You're so lucky!"

"Yeah... Maybe it and Patch could be friends," Ana said. I smiled, and we ran back to mine, checking if my surprise package had arrived yet. "Fírinne, she won't be here until your dad gets home. He'll be bringing her here," Mam told me. I sighed, and told my friends. We went back to their estate, and played for a couple hours. We made up names and a song for the chosen name, Bloom.

At around seven o clock, when we checked again, Dad still wasn't home. So we sat in my playroom and waited. The sound of a car pulling up caught my attention. I looked out the window, and saw my dad's friend Tom's Jeep's doors opening, and my dad stepping out with a cardboard box advertising popcorn on it. I ran to the front door, and said, "Dad, are we getting popcorn to celebrate the new dog?"

"Eh, Fírinne, could you climb up the money tree and grab us a fifty?" he said sarcastically. I felt my face growing hot. I ran up to him, and looked in that brightly coloured box. The weirdest fluffy black and white thing about the size of a fist was lying in the corner on a tattered old pink bathrobe. I gasped, and lifted it out. It yawned and unfurled itself. I smiled with glee. The little thing opened its eyes, and looked right at me. I held it up, and examined it. "It's a boy!" I exclaimed. "No, she's a girl." I looked again. "Oh...." I blushed. "Her name is Bloom," I told Dad. "Balloon? What sort of a name is that?" he joked. I sighed and laughed.



Ruth and Ana came outside, and played with Bloom. She stumbled around the grass with us, licking us, and sniffing us. My parents smiled, and joined in, petting her back, and calling her over, to train her to her name. Later that night, more of my friends that Ana and Ruth told about Bloom came over to pet her. I felt so popular that day. So for a few weeks, Bloom made me popular. Well, Cleo, as we called her after three days of everybody calling her 'Balloon'.

That quickly wore off as soon as she grew bigger and wasn't the tiny little fluff ball that could fit under a 4 inch shelf. But I'll never forget the night I met one of my best friends.


Getting a Dog

Guest writer Fírinne McIntyre with her first piece for TPQ. It is a short homework story.
So I'd always wanted a dog. First, I'd wanted a little husky puppy. Then a golden retriever pup. But my dad hated the mess they made, so as always, the answer was an elaborately described 'no'. Actually, it hadn't always been an elaborately described no - that developed after the begging I'd done, but anyways.

So you'd imagine the sense of surreality I'd felt walking down the street to my house that Friday, coming in the door to find a dog's lead on the table, dog bowls on the floor, a dog bed in the sun room. I'd asked my mam if we were babysitting a dog, because I didn't want to seem straightforward about it, as I'd be embarrassed if it turned out the dog wasn't going to be ours. Mam laughed. "No..."

"So we're getting a dog?" I pressed hopefully. "Yes. Only if your behavior's good," she replied casually. Usually, this only happens in movies, but I literally cried tears and tears and tears of happiness. So I bombed her with catapulting questions, all about the unknown creature we were letting into our home. She gave nothing away. I told her I was going outside, to my friends.

As I walked up that road, I imagined what it would be like to wake up in the morning to a wet, pink tongue, licking me all over. When my friends came outside, I told them all about my new dog. "Oh, no way!" Ruth exclaimed in awe. "You're so lucky!"

"Yeah... Maybe it and Patch could be friends," Ana said. I smiled, and we ran back to mine, checking if my surprise package had arrived yet. "Fírinne, she won't be here until your dad gets home. He'll be bringing her here," Mam told me. I sighed, and told my friends. We went back to their estate, and played for a couple hours. We made up names and a song for the chosen name, Bloom.

At around seven o clock, when we checked again, Dad still wasn't home. So we sat in my playroom and waited. The sound of a car pulling up caught my attention. I looked out the window, and saw my dad's friend Tom's Jeep's doors opening, and my dad stepping out with a cardboard box advertising popcorn on it. I ran to the front door, and said, "Dad, are we getting popcorn to celebrate the new dog?"

"Eh, Fírinne, could you climb up the money tree and grab us a fifty?" he said sarcastically. I felt my face growing hot. I ran up to him, and looked in that brightly coloured box. The weirdest fluffy black and white thing about the size of a fist was lying in the corner on a tattered old pink bathrobe. I gasped, and lifted it out. It yawned and unfurled itself. I smiled with glee. The little thing opened its eyes, and looked right at me. I held it up, and examined it. "It's a boy!" I exclaimed. "No, she's a girl." I looked again. "Oh...." I blushed. "Her name is Bloom," I told Dad. "Balloon? What sort of a name is that?" he joked. I sighed and laughed.



Ruth and Ana came outside, and played with Bloom. She stumbled around the grass with us, licking us, and sniffing us. My parents smiled, and joined in, petting her back, and calling her over, to train her to her name. Later that night, more of my friends that Ana and Ruth told about Bloom came over to pet her. I felt so popular that day. So for a few weeks, Bloom made me popular. Well, Cleo, as we called her after three days of everybody calling her 'Balloon'.

That quickly wore off as soon as she grew bigger and wasn't the tiny little fluff ball that could fit under a 4 inch shelf. But I'll never forget the night I met one of my best friends.


26 comments:

  1. Firinne,

    I remember that day so well. This is a great story and I hope you write many more. You are a very good writer and there is a novel in you. So proud to be your dad.

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  2. What a wonderful read. Very talented writing skills. Really made me feel part of the story. It felt natural and organic. Certainly look forward for more to come.

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  3. Maitiu,

    much appreciated. Obviously I am biased because she is my daughter but I thought she could express herself well too. Thanks very much for your comment.

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  4. Firinne,

    An ingeniously constructed piece of creative writing for your age. All the more touching because our 'auld boy' passed away last night. So this was personally a very heartwarming read that displays innate skill and intelligence far beyond your years.

    A recommendation if I may - James Herbert's 'Fluke'.

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  5. Lovely read. Find myself in total agreement with Robert. Truly something special.

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  6. Firinne Loved the story - well written, interesting and a great read! Your dog is Cutesville 100 percent on stumpy legs – a gorgeous wee beastie. Dogs rule – I love them. The last dog I had was a fox terrier. When it was a pup it tore my place apart just for kicks when I was at work (it had a trillion toys to play with but no it wanted to chew on furniture) For years it would store bones under my pillow on the bed (a real treat for a midnite feast!) It demanded the best seat in the house and hogged it so no-one could sit on it. I do think it thought it was human at times! Every dog has its own distinct personality and they know when u are on your way home and they can read your moods quite well. They are clever critters - very loyal & usually very greedy lol and sometimes very sly!
    Boxer eats sofa
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Gaf68_ph0

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  7. I became part of the story , stroking the pup.

    Excellent writing from such a young lady , but , then again , No doubt she takes it after her Mum and Dad.

    Plenty more to come from Firnne , and a novel or two maybe.

    Good luck for the future Firnne.

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  8. Good call Robert, Fluke is an excellent read..

    What I have just read could easily be the first page of a great novel. If that was entered into a short story competition it would probably win (deffo top three).

    Ask her to post more Anthony. As Maitiu said, you felt part of the story.

    10/10..

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  9. Thanks to everyone for their lovely comments. I am so proud of her. She will be delighted when she returns home from school and sees all the wonderful things said about her.

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  10. Firinne,
    Great story! I remember getting my first dog and not by conventional means. My friend literally climbed over the back wall of a house where it appeared to be kept hail, rain or snow and opened the back door and we took her or rescued her as we thought at the time. My Da went ballistic but soon calmed down. She was an absolute gem and a beauty a black cocker spaniel, loved her to bits we all did especially my Da, never regretted snatching her not for a second.

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  11. Firinne,

    thanks for sharing your wonderful story it brought back lots of old memories of my old dog.
    We all know who the best writer in your house is but don’t tell your da I said that.
    You write so creatively and I hope you keep at it and share some more with us readers on the quill it is certainly a refreshing change of pace a very human piece.

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  12. Again, thanks for the beautiful comments for her. I am the third best writer in the house. Carrie is first with Firinne putting in a strong challenge. My 3rd place spot will survive until Ronan shoves me into 4th. And then Cleo will battle it out for me but I guess I will have to settle for 5th eventually.

    My literary talents know their limitations!

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  13. Felt at ease reading that-a story about a days life well told-

    I was half expecting the young Pup to be called Fido-but then why ruin a good tale-well done-

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  14. Really enjoyed that. Great to see a young pen put to paper so well.

    Anthony,

    "I sighed" - that made me chuckle. I'm sure you cause a lot of sighs from your daughter. I await her confiding how you exasperate her.

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  15. One things certain Firinne we'll be seeing your name on the cover of books someday soon.

    An enjoyable read and I know how your Dad felt, our son has wanted a wee dog this last few years but I'm certain that once he gets one we'll end up feeding and walking it while he kills Zombies in his bedroom.

    Keep up the writing and I look forward to seeing more of your stories on The Pensive Quill.

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  16. Here here... Great stuff! You can see the literary skills already in place and the imagination to go with it - the ingredients of a great writer, just like Mum and Dad!

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  17. Excellent piece of writing Firinne!! My boys took turns reading it and we all agree it is excellent and the dog a wee cracker! Can't wait to read more of your work.xx

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  18. Aww, Firinne, what a lovely wee story you wrote about your new doggy! It made me feel very happy for you and your family and your wee Bloom (if this is still her name). She looks darling and I am very impressed with your first piece here on your da's site. I look forward to reading more of your writing and it's so grand to see how your parents' writing has allowed you to feel confident in your own voice, a wonderful gift!

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  19. Firinne, I love your piece here and I am so happy you now have your doggy! Keep up the great writing, too! I look forward to reading much more from you!

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  20. Firinne,

    That is the saddest looking dog I have ever seen; Only kidding ;-) she looks great. Your story brought back memories of Judy, the dog we had throughout my own childhood, happy days.

    Thanks for sharing it, it cheered me up no end.

    Mick

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  21. From Mick Browne

    Firinne - I'm in total agreement with Robert, it was ingeniously constructed and yet it was also totally unaffected. Best I've read in ages.

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  22. Well done Firinne very well written and a very good story, there are lots people on here who could learn a few things from you , I am glad you made clear that her real name is Cleo, because your dad has called her loads of other names which can be very confusing

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  23. Just playing catch up here Frinne,an excellent account of precious memories which I,m sure will last you forever,as stated you are a wordsmith in the making ,following on in the family tradition and more power to your elbow ,I somehow reckoned youd become a rock star but hey like Bob Dylan you can combine both talents, the best dog I ever had came to us when we were building niaorna na Fuiseoige in Twinbrook a brickie called Muck told us his pet alsatian dog was under a death sentence by the brits in Lenadoon,apparently one of them had put his hand through the garden fence to stroke the dog,big mistake the dog took his finger of and when muck went out the back to see what the commotion was all about ,sure was,nt the dog happily playing with yer mans glove with finger still in it,we took him on as a guard dog and named him Shane, we fed him by pushing his food bowl to him on a long pole at first,he pulled a small caravan apart one evening to get at his stored food ,it was the then sinn fein advice center which we had commandeered,the dog must have had better foresight than the rest of us, anyway I worked with him and we became friends and he was a joy to be round. my children who were babies at the time had many happy hours playing with him and as a guard dog his legend had travelled with him and we never had a single break in in the three years we spent building that school, so hon thanks for the memory,keep up the guitar and the writing theres a talent there ,

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  24. Firinne, What a well written beautiful story !!! that had to have gotten full marks at school !! You did such a great job - keep writing and creating :)

    Anthony, Carrie, How proud are you both of your wonderful daughter !!!! Such great wee talent that you have both nurtured - keep up the good work :) xxxx

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  25. Firinne,

    Well done. I could barely string two words together when I was your age, so the easy, natural flow of your narrative is very impressive. Brava, brava!

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