The sun was just beginning to rise when I felt a gentle hand scoop me up from my cozy spot between my doggy mommy and daddy. I blinked up, my eyes still a little blurry from sleep, and there he was—this new human. He smelled kind, warm, and something about him just felt... safe.
I tilted my head, curious. My tail gave an involuntary little wag. His voice was deep and soft as he spoke, "Hey there, buddy. You ready to go to your new home?" He scratched behind my ears, and wow, did that feel good. I gave a tiny yawn and nuzzled closer to him. I liked him already.
This was it, I realized—I was leaving All Southern Dogs and meeting my new family. I looked back at my doggy mommy and daddy one last time. They were watching me calmly, like they knew this was a big moment for me. I barked a quiet goodbye, but I didn’t feel sad. Not really. Somehow, I knew I was heading for something wonderful.
The human carried me gently to the car, and as he opened the door, he chuckled. "By the way, you’ve got a new name now," he said. I perked up at that. A new name? I liked the sound of that. “You’re not just Bane anymore. You’re Gumbo now. How about that, little guy?”
Gumbo. I rolled the name around in my mind. Gumbo... Gumbo. Yes! I liked it. It felt warm and fun, like me! I let out a happy little bark, and he laughed again, a deep, happy sound that made me feel so loved.
As we drove, I settled into the seat beside him, my head resting on the soft cushion. The hum of the car and the gentle vibration made my eyes droop, and before I knew it, I was drifting off into a puppy nap. But not before catching a whiff of something new—something different from the familiar scents of All Southern Dogs. It smelled... far away, like new trees, new places, new adventures. I liked it.
I woke up a few times along the way, peeking out the window at the unfamiliar scenery. It was all so different from where I was born, but I didn’t feel scared. My new daddy was right there, and he kept reaching over to give me gentle pats, reassuring me that everything was okay. And I believed him. I’d never been this far from home before, but this was my home now—with him.
Soon enough, the gentle rocking of the car had me dozing off again, and when I woke up, we had stopped. I blinked around, sniffing the air. Where were we? "Welcome to your new home, Gumbo," my daddy said with a smile, and he picked me up once more. My nose twitched with excitement as I took in all the new smells. So many new things to explore! And the house—it was big, cozy, and felt like the best place ever.
He carried me inside, and there, on a big soft bed, were my new people brother and sisters. They were sleeping, but I could tell even in their dreams they were excited to meet me. As soon as they woke up, they were all over me, giggling and hugging me, making me feel like the most special pup in the world.
That night, as the house quieted down and the lights dimmed, I found myself snuggled right between my new brother and sisters. Their small hands rested on my fur, keeping me warm, safe, and loved. I nestled in, my heart swelling with happiness.
I didn’t know what a Maryland was, but whatever it was, I was glad to be here. With my new name, my new family, and all this love around me, I knew this was where I belonged.
As I drifted off into another peaceful puppy sleep, I couldn’t help but think—being Gumbo was going to be the best thing ever.
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