Papa G - Pedro The Ugliest dog In The World (Volume 1)

Pedro The Ugliest Dog In The World

Papa G

Copyright 2011 by Papa G

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1Hard knock Life

Pedro the ugliest dog in the world was ugly and when I say ugly, I dont mean just plain old dog ugly, I mean hideously and unfortunately ugly. He had two bug eyesone big, one small. He had jutting teeth and wonky ears. He had a tongue that was precisely two inches too big for his mouth and apart from one tuft of spiky silver fur on top of his head he was completely bald. But if there is one thing a puppy can always count onno matter how ugly he isand that is the love of a mother, and Pedros mother, a wise old goat hound by the name of Carmelita, loved Pedro with all her heart for the brave little soul he was.

"Why do I look so different from my brothers?" Pedro asked his mother one day.

"Because you are special." His mother gave him a reassuring lick.

"Special? Special how?" Pedro wanted to know.

"You are brave and strong, one day soon people will come and take you to join their pack and you will protect them with your life as this is a dogs duty, they will not care what you look like and they will love you for who you are."

"Who am I?" Pedro asked.

"You are the bravest little dog in the whole of Mexico."

"Sweet!" Pedro shouted and wagging his little hairless tail went back to playing with his brothers.

Pedro enjoyed this time with his mother, and he enjoyed playing rough and tumble with his brothers. He even enjoyed the company of Seor Fuentes their owner.

Seor Fuentes was a kindly old man who walked with a limp. Carmelita had told her boys that Seor Fuentes was once a famous matador who got injured by a bull and had lost all his money chasing ladies. Seor Fuentes loved Carmelita dearly, and although he was very poor, he always made sure that she had enough to eat, so she in turn had enough milk for her puppies.

All too soon Seor Fuentes erected a wooden sign outside his little one room house. "Puppies for saletwenty pesos," it said in bright red painted letters.

Pedro and his brothers were excited. "I wonder what kind of pack will choose me," they asked each other.

"Mine will be rich with a big house," said one.

"Mine will be pirates and we will sail the seven seas," said another.

"My pack will love me, and I will guard them with my life," Pedro said.

Pedro ran to his mother. "I will miss you, Mamma, when my pack comes to get me."

"I will miss you too, but this is the way of this world, and you will always be in my heart, my brave little puppy."

"And you will always be in mine," Later that day families came to look at the puppies. Children joyfully pointed out which puppy they would like to take home, and their parents paid Seor Fuentes twenty pesos. But none of the children pointed out Pedro. Some children laughed when they saw him and said things like, "That is one ugly dog," or "Ha-ha, look at his wonky ears." Other children cried, and one little girl was so scared she ran out of the house screaming.

One by one Pedro's brothers were taken, until by the end of that first day only Pedro remained.

"Why did no one take me, Mamma?" Pedro asked, his bottom lip trembling, tears forming in his little bug eyes.

Carmelita pushed Pedro's chin up and looked him in the eye. "Don't cry, Pedro; never cry, not because of the things people say. They are just words. They cannot hurt you. You are the bravest dog in the whole of Mexico, and the bravest dog in Mexico does not cry. Tomorrow is another day, and soon your pack will come for you."

But tomorrow came and went and so did the day after that, and no one took Pedro. Seor Fuentes changed his sign to fifteen pesos, then to ten pesos, then to five. Days turned into weeks, but no one came for Pedro. Seor Fuentes gave up trying to sell Pedro and changed his sign to read, "Free Puppy." People came again, but they did not want such a strange looking dog. They just laughed or cried or said mean things, but Pedro did not cry, not once. He was the bravest dog in Mexico, and the bravest dog in Mexico did not cry.

More weeks went by. Eventually the sign fell down, and people stopped coming altogether. Pedro began to get worried.

"What are we going to do, Mamma? Seor Fuentes cannot afford to feed us both, and no one wants to take me."

Carmelitas shoulders sank but she managed to give Pedro a smile.

"Don't worry, Son, we can share my food. There will be enough, Im sure."

Pedro felt a little better, and even though no one had chosen him, at least he would get to stay with his mamma.

Months went by, and even though there was not much food, Pedro got bigger and stronger and perhaps a little stranger looking. He was happy and did what he could around the house, which was mainly being a guard dog and barking at passers-by, Pedro was brave and loyal, and he would make sure his mother and Seor Fuentes were safe.

One day his mother called him.

"Pedro, my son, I am with puppies again. They will soon be born, and you will have more brothers and sisters."

"But we won't have enough food," Pedro said looking worried. "You will need extra food to grow them, and after they are born, you will need extra food to give them their milk."

His mother was tired, she pulled him close. "Don't worry; I am sure Seor Fuentes will provide somehow."

The next day Seor Fuentes came in and knelt beside Pedro's mother, giving her a pat. "Good news, old girl," he said, "I have found a nice family to take Pedro. I am going to borrow the neighbor's car and take him there this afternoon."

Carmelita was overjoyed and felt better than she had in weeks. "Pedro, Pedro, come quick; I have wonderful news."

Pedro came running in from the back yard. "What is it, Mamma?"

"Seor Fuentes has found you a pack at last; he is going to take you to them this very afternoon."

Pedro was so happy he could have cried, but he did not. "Oh Mamma, everything is going to be okay. You will have enough food for your puppies, and I will finally get what every dog wantsa pack of his own."

"You will have a wonderful life my son. Remember to always be loyal and brave, and your pack will see you for who you really arethe real you inside, the bravest dog there ever was."

"Thank you, Mamma, I will."

It was not long before Seor Fuentes returned and put a leash on Pedro. He allowed Pedro one last good-bye to his mother.

"You will always be with me in my heart, Mamma," he said.

"And you in mine, Pedro. Remember always be brave and protect your pack with your life."

"I will Mamma, I promise." And with that, Seor Fuentes took Pedro, put him in the back of his neighbor's pickup, and drove off.

Oh, what a day this was for Pedro, getting his first ride in a car and finally getting to meet his pack. He was so happy. He stuck his head out of the side of the pickup and let his tongue flap around in the wind, spit flying everywhere. As Seor Fuentes drove out of town and turned towards the desert, Pedro was the happiest he had ever been.

After a couple of hours of driving down desert tracks, Seor Fuentes pulled the truck to a stop and got out. He untied Pedro. Pedro jumped down, his tail wagging; he couldn't wait to meet his pack. He wanted to leap about and bark, but instead he sat down and looked up at Seor Fuentes just like his mother had taught him. Seor Fuentes bent down and took Pedro's leash off. Pedro looked around. There was no house nearby, only desert, sand, and rocks as far as the eye could see. Confused, Pedro looked back at his master, but Seor Fuentes would not look at Pedro. Instead, he looked down at his shoes in shame and whispered, " Lo siento . Pedro." Pedro watched in shock as Seor Fuentes turned back towards the pickup. His master hesitated only a moment before he got in and drove off.