Sofia’s Puppy Love

The Science Fair

Two weeks later, everyone in school gathers in the gymnasium for the annual science fair. It seems like everyone from the whole town is there. Jasmine has managed to make a great electric circuit with her potato. She impresses everyone by showing how it can turn on a lamp. Madison set up a fondue pot to melt different kinds of chocolate bars. Next to her, Keiko has set up a ladder, which she plans on dropping her egg from with a special cushioned parachute she designed and built herself.

Sofia’s presentation was about runts. And it gathered quite a crowd. It showed the charts Sofia had made to track Piper’s diet and weight for the first six weeks of his life. But what really drew the crowd was the puppy movie Sofia had made on her laptop. Mrs. Wallace had let Sofia record some video from the webcam, and Madison contributed footage she’d taken with her phone showing Sofia bottle-feeding and weighing Piper. Any time someone passed by Sofia’s table, they oohed and aahed at the adorable puppies.

Although all of the attention makes Sofia very happy, it also makes her nervous. Peaches and Piper are the only puppies left to be adopted. It’s only a matter of time until someone picks Piper. But Sofia knows the important thing is that Piper finds his forever home.

Ms. Chen is busy telling Sofia’s father how proud he should be of Sofia. Sofia’s mother wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed home. Ms. Chen then continues to tell Dad that Sofia was the one who approached her to ask for a second chance, not the other way around. Ms. Chen had doubts that Sofia could get the project ready in time, but she was proved wrong.

Sofia’s father took a long look at the project. The video clips showed Piper diving under the blankets, and then popping his head out and panting. Then, Dad says something that makes Piper’s heart race. He suggests that after the science fair, they go to the shelter to adopt Piper! Yes, Sofia made quite a few messes. But she helped clean every single one up. Sofia really proved that she is mature by asking Ms. Chen for another chance at the science fair, and how hard she worked with Piper.

Sofia’s thrilled. She shouts across the gym to her friends that she’ll get to adopt Piper after all. All four girls jump up and down gleefully. And they hurry away from the gym to go to Rosa’s Refuge.

When they get to the shelter, Sofia excitedly hurries inside where they meet Mrs. Wallace. Sofia tells Mrs. Wallace that they’re finally ready to adopt Piper!

Mrs. Wallace’s face falls. She says that just that morning a family came in and decided to adopt two puppies. They adopted both Peaches and Piper. In fact, not only were they adopted, but the family took both puppies home, since they’ve been fully weaned. Piper is gone.

Sofia is speechless. The noises from all the other animals become a mumbled drone in her head. She cannot focus or even think. She never even got to say goodbye.

When Sofia gets home, she crawls into bed beside her mom. She feels like the world is ending. Sofia will never love another dog like she loved Piper. Her mother says she understands. But there may be something that will cheer her up.

Sofia’s mom reaches into her dresser and pulls out another X-ray. But this time instead of six tiny skulls, Sofia sees one big skull with a tiny five-fingered fist next to it. Sofia’s mom tells her that she’s going to be a big sister. Mom is pregnant!

Sofia can’t believe it. She’s always wanted a baby brother or sister, but she just always thought she’d be an only child. She’s so excited! Mom says they don’t know yet if it’s a boy or a girl, but they’ll love the baby regardless.

Sofia smiles. She’s still sad about Piper, but she’s thrilled by her parents’ surprising news. And soon, she’ll have a little brother or sister. Then she realizes. The spare room! It’s to be a new bedroom for the baby!

Mom nods her head. And they’ll need someone responsible to help them make the spare room extra special for the new baby. Sofia exclaims that she’d be happy to help.

And for just a few moments, the crack in Sofia’s heart hurts a little bit less.