I had a pet once, but we got divorced.
Killer got his nickname when he killed his first owner. He was just moments from death for this when I stepped in.
You see, Killer was naturally a very gentle creature. He loved the outdoors, whether it was strutting down the street or romping and rolling in a grassy field. He particularly liked the stream behind our house. Occasionally, I would find him lying beside it, sunning himself. He was so cute.
When killer and I first met, it was when I talked to the Human Society about having him as a pet. They tried to warn me that Killer had just killed his owners little boy, that he was a dangerous creature and must be put to sleep. He could never be trusted again. I then explained to them that you have to have respect for animals, you can love and care for them without disturbing their domain. There are certain lines you just don't cross. They seemed to respect my judgment- or maybe they just thought I deserved it- either way, I took Killer home that day.
I mean really, Killer couldn't be to blame for that kid dying. If he hadn't been teasing Killer, Killer wouldn't have bitten him, and if the kid would have shown his parents instead of trying to hide it, the infection would have never gotten that far out of hand.
Killer was old and slow and maybe just a little cranky with age, but he still brought years of happiness to our family. Our children loved him more than any other pet we've ever had, before or since.
I'll never forget the day Killer was murdered!
I was working in the garden, and happen to look up. There was Killer strolling down the side of the road with his head held high- probably enjoying the nice breeze that had blessed us that hot July afternoon. He looked so proud and sophisticated, like he didn't have a care in the world.
It was only moments after I went back to my chore of gardening that I heard the screech of tires on the road in front of the house. I jumped up in alarm and started running toward the street, it seemed to take a million years to get there, and that was when I saw it. A boy and his father were huddled around something on the road. As I neared them, I could hear the little boy saying, "Oh daddy, you smushed it!" Then I heard the father say, "That's OK son, it was just a turtle."
I thought, "Just a turtle, Just A Turtle!" Sure, it may seem that way to the rest of the world, but to us, Killer was a beloved part of our family. We will always cherish the memories of him.
-Rumple
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