• I was walking from my bus stop. The old abandoned building stood infront of me. I growned. The memories. That was where i had found my best friend... I was elevan... My friends and I were playing a game of hide and seek in that building. We new that we weren't allowed in there, but it was great for hide and seek. I hid in a room away from all the others. I hid behind a left behind dresser and was silent. Then i heard rustling closeby. I screamed. The seeker ran into the room.
    "Amber? What's wrong?"
    I ran out of the room with the seeker following close behind.
    "There's someone- something in there!!"
    "Oh silly, it's abandoned!"
    Then, all of a sudden, a dog, looked about two or so, walked out of the room. He was as skinny as a pencil, in my point of view. You could see his bones. He was panting, and his face was all scratched up, and torso- burned.
    "Oh my God..." I whispered.
    The seeker ran away screaming. "IT'S A MONSTER!"
    But i knew better. I moved closer to him. He took a step back. I reached my hand out, and he flinched. "I'm not gonna hurt you doggy."
    He carefully sniffed my hand, and then nudged his head against it. This was the start of a beautiful friendship.
    All the girls had left in spite of the dog. I played with him, got to know him. It had gotten dark. I grabbed the dog by his color. "I'm going to get you food, water, and a nice home."
    I pulled him like this all the way to my house. When i showed up at the door, my mother was horrified.
    "WHAT IS THAT!?"
    "He's my new friend mother, he has come to play. He despretly needs food and water."
    "Hunny, that is NOT your friend."
    "Mom, you dont understand. Me and the girls were playing hide and seek in the building, and i found him. Please Mother, he is in great need."
    It took her a second to answer, but she finally said that we would give him a chance. I gave him some leftover meat from lastnight and some water. He devoured it. I set up a little bed next to mine, and he rolled up, and sleeped on it. As the summer days past, me and him became great friends. He went everywhere with me. School had started and I was in the sixth grade. It was December when the worst thing happened. I got off the bus, and he was right there waiting for me. I smiled as i walked off the bus and onto the side of the road. I patted him on the head and we were on our way back home. He never needed a leash. A car on the road pulled over down the street. My friend whined.
    "What's the matter boy?" I asked.
    He started barking.
    A very fat lady had come out of the car and toward us.
    "I'm sorry, but that dog looks like my old dog, and i was wondering where you found him."
    "Um... I don't talk to strangers."
    "Oh, but im not a stranger, i'm the former owner of that dog. I lost him, and now i want him back."
    I stared at her in disbelief. "If you're the former owner of this dog, than that means... THAT YOU ABUSED HIM!!"
    "I beg your pardon?"
    "WHEN I FOUND HIM IN THAT OLD BUILDING, HE WAS ALL SCRATCHED UP AND BEATEN!!! I'M NEVER GIVING HIM BACK! NEVER!!"
    "Give me him right now or i'll call the cops saying you stole him!!"
    I ran away with my friend quickly. i crossed the street towards my house. I heard a loud bump.
    I screamed. My mother came running out of the house. They had hit him with their car. They then shot the dog to be sure he was dead.
    "NO!!" I yelled.
    "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR TELLIN' ON US, VERMIN!!" The woman yelled.
    Tears ran down my face.
    They ran over the dog and went on their way back home. I ran to him, and my mom followed.
    I cried. "NO! NO! YOU CAN'T BE DEAD! YOU CAN'T!!"
    My mother grabbed the phone and called the police. She had gotten the couple behind bars. She also called an animal shelter, and vets office to find help. He almost lived, but he died three days later in the vets office. I got a call from home when i was at school. My whole class saw me cry. I got school counciling for the rest of that year. I was heart broken. I then had no friends, for my bad attitude against my old friends when he died. That Christmas, i got another dog, a new puppy from a breeder, but it wasn't the same. We didn't have the bond that me and my old friend had. We buried him in the pet cemetary a few blocks down. Titled on his grave were the words:
    My Good Old Friend
    You'll always be in my heart.

    A tear rolled down my cheek remembering the moments. I had my friends back now, i love my dog now, but not as much as i did my old friend. That couple that killed him is still in jail. I'm 15 now... and still haven't fully recovered from the tradgic memory. In my dreams i see it happen over and over. I've been taking counciling and have been getting better and better. But i will never forget my old best friend.