Macha

    When we first moved to the new home, it was only my three kids and myself.  I grew up with dogs and cats, so I knew that as long as we could, we needed a pet.  We first got two kittens; one med. gray we called Ashey, the other a white w/ patches of black we called Emerald.  So far so good.  My girls were excited and happy.  My son, not so much.  It was a few days later, I heard of some German Shepherd puppies, but the owner wanted to sell them.  I didn't have what he wanted, so I had to pass.  We kept our ears open for dogs, though. 
      It was two weeks later that the owner called.  He couldn't sell the pups because they were female and no one wanted females.  Many thought that female dogs were not good for anything except more puppies.  I thought differently. 
    As I said, I was raised with animals.  I grew to love them and I thought certain female dogs were the best for raising around children.  They were more protective of the home and would not let strangers near their charges.  So I went and grabbed a particualy small one. 
    She was dark with a few pale markings.  I had already picked a name; Macha.  Spanish for brave and stubborn.  She was very scared at riding in a car at first, so when I got her down, she would just cower.  To me, she was a cute and I had already fallen in love.   
      The kids were in school, so she was a surprise when they got home.  My son was esctatic.  She became his dog and she felt the same about him. 
      The kittens soom realized that a strange animal was in the house and reacted.  They stayed in the girls' room.  With all the attention she got, Macha soon came out of her fear.  She started exploring and soon wandered into the girls room.  I wish I could describe the chaos that followed.  Ashey was territorial.  Macha avoided the room for a while. 
    As I was not working, it was my duty to house train Macha.  The cats were easy compared to her, but I kept going.  She soon learned to scratch the door for 'out'.  Learned her sleeping place; with my son.  And had soon been accepted by the kittens.  She would chase the kits around, when they let her. 
      Macha soon proved her worth.  I live in a moble home park and have a few neighbors.  As there was only the three of us, I would sleep light.  All the doors and window were kept locked at night.  Less that a week after we got her, Macha began growling.  I got up and went to where she stood near the door.  Who ever it was, was gone before I turned the lights on.  Macha paced the living room and went to all the windows she could reach.  Together, she and I went to check on my girls.  All was calm and quiet.    I reached down and said "Good, girl."  Then put her back into my son's room.  I knew then I had picked a good one. 
      My cousin also lived there.  Her children came over almost everyday to check and see how we were.  Macha would hear the knock and run to the door.  She just knew it was family.  She was so strong that at her leaps, she could almost see through the little window at the top of the door. 
      Almost a month after getting Macha, one tenent came to my door.  He was a tall, thin man, whom I've seen around the park.    Macha as usual, ran to the door expecting family.  The kits watched from the back of the couch and my kids and I were eating.  When I saw his face in the door, I asked what did he want.  He wanted to use the phone.  I hesitated.  I don't remember who held Macha, but I remember her reaction. 
    Her hair on her shoulders stood up on end and she growled as best as her puppy throat would allow.  He saw her and backed away.  The next time I saw him, he would say hi, but gave my trailer a wide berth, each time asking that we hold the dog.    Again I knew I had gotten a good dog.  She had proved her worth twice and I felt safe.