Full Speed Ahead: My Journey with Kit

Kit grabs me by the hand and drags me behind her as she runs downstairs to the backyard. Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Kittredge are hanging clothes on the clothesline. Mr. Kittredge is digging potato plants, and Charlie and Stirling are weeding with the help of Buddy and Grace. The yard is washed in a sunny, golden, late afternoon glow.

Kit tells everybody to look. She shows off the dress I made her by twirling in a circle. Everybody oohs and aahs and claps. Mr. Kittredge sweeps Kit up in a waltz around the yard, and everyone starts talking at once.

Mrs. Kittredge asks if that’s her old dress? Charlie says that I am a genius. Mrs. Howard says the dress is simply dreamy. Mr. Kittredge says it’s a movie-star dress. He tells Kit she looks like a million bucks. Kit and her dad waltz over to me and Kit thanks me. She can’t wait to go back to school.

I tell Kit that Roger better watch out. In a weird way, I feel grateful to Roger. He didn’t mean to, but he revealed something that Kit was longing for, and something that I could give her.

We are all laughing and talking so much that we don’t hear the big, black, purring car drive up, or see the little girl jump out of it and happily shout the name Scooter. She rushes over and falls to her knees to hug Buddy, who rises up on his back legs so he can lick her face in spasms of love and joy.

The little girl’s father greets us. He apologizes for barging in, but they are so thrilled to have found the girl’s puppy. Mr. Kittredge asks for clarification. This dog is their dog? The man nods. He says they’ve been searching for Scooter all day. They’ve looked from one end of Cincinnati to the other. They wouldn’t have given up until they found him. Mr. Kittredge turns to me and says he thought Buddy was my dog.

I shake my head miserably. I say I never knew where he came from. But I loved him so much that I wanted him to be mine. Everyone can see I’m close to tears, and they’re too nice to ask me any more questions. The girl’s father apologizes. He thrusts a twenty dollar bill into my hands. He says they were offering a reward for Scooter’s safe return. The girl’s been heartbroken and sick with worry. He thanks me for taking such good care of Scooter today.

Mrs. Kittredge stands behind me and puts her hands on my shoulders to comfort me. She says he’s been a lovable dog and we’re glad he’s back with his own family. I’m fighting back tears, even though I know this is for the best. But he can’t come back to the twenty-first century with me, and it’s clear he loves the girl and she loves him. So I pick Buddy up, give him one last hug, and hand him to the girl. She shyly says that we can visit anytime that we want.

The girl’s father says that in fact, they’re taking a trip next month. Maybe we can look in on Scooter while they’re away. He’ll pay us. Kit excitedly says that we would be glad to look after the dog. Then we all wave goodbye as the girl and her father leave, driving away in their luxurious, looking car, taking Buddy with them.

Suddenly, I can’t keep it inside anymore, and I turn around to run inside the house.

I crook my arm over my face, crying as I run up the stairs. When I get to Kit’s room, I throw myself on the bed and cry hot tears of sorrow. I knew I’d have to say goodbye to Buddy sooner or later, but I never imagined how much it would hurt. I’ll probably never see him again. Will the camera ever let me return? At least Kit will be able to see him again. And she’ll be paid, too, which will be good for her family.

And then, I hear Kit whisper next to me. She comes down to sit on the bed next to me. She apologizes about Buddy. We’ll all miss him. I tell her that he was never really mine. Kit is quiet for a moment, and then she says that she’s not sure about that. I loved him. I took care of him, and I had adventures with him. He was mine for a day, and I made that day a happy one. I roll over and tell Kit that one day isn’t very much. Kit agrees. But she says that it’s better than nothing. And one thing she’s learned from the Depression is to be glad even for a small dose of happiness. Happiness comes unexpectedly, so we better be on the lookout for it, otherwise we’ll miss it.

I sigh and say I should be glad that Buddy has such a nice owner. And that he’s not far away. Kit nods. He’s home, where he belongs. I swallow hard. Home. Maybe it’s time for me to go home, too.

Kit says she has to go downstairs to help Mother. I can rest upstairs. When I’m ready, I can come back down. I grab Kit’s hand as she stands to go and I tell her thank you. Kit says that she should be thanking me. I gave everyone a happy day today.

When Kit leaves, I write her note. It says:

I fold the note and tuck the twenty dollar bill inside. I prop it up on Kit’s typewriter and take one last look around the room. I look out the window. Outside, I see Kit, who will be forever next to Izza in the place in my heart where I keep my best friends. And I think of Buddy, whom I will miss every day of my life. I turn away from the window, put on my old coat, take a deep breath, and click the camera.