Last weekend, I thought I lost my son.

A man hugging his son | Source: Midjourney

It all started with a dog. My son, Andy, had been begging for one for months. Every day, same request: “Dad, can we please, please get a dog?” He was relentless, and I was getting close to caving in. But he also had to convince Kelly, my wife.

Finally, after a lot of talking, my wife agreed. She looked me dead in the eye and said, “Fine, but only if it’s small and presentable. We’re not getting some big, sloppy mutt.”