The closer I came to our house, the slower I walked. Snowball, still snuggled in my pocket whimpered softly, as if she could sense my anxiety.

I paused before I started down the path to our house. I listened as the wind began to blow with an uneasy roar as it swept down the river behind our house. The air was getting colder now, so I hastened my step. As I came closer to our house, the smell of wood smoke and the aroma of Mama's sweetcakes filled the air. The fact that Mama was baking sweet cakes
was a good sign. She always baked them when she was in a good mood.

I stepped upon the porch and hesitated before opening the door. Just then Daddy opened the door
and said,"Get inside before you freeze to death!" I was glad that Daddy had come home from work early. I sure needed his support to convince Mama to let me keep Snowball! Mama was blind and she couldn't see how sweet and lovable Snowball was. It might make it harder to get her consent. Mama was blind but she could do anything anyone could do except drive a car. Well we didn't have a car anyway so that didn't matter.

I thought to myself, the best way to do this is just tell her about Snowball and get it over with.
About that time Snowball began yelping. The "dog was out of the bag", so to speak. "Where's that dog?" Mama demanded. Shaking in my shoes, I said, "Mama Phyllis gave her to me with this nice set of dishes and this wonderful warm coat. Mama replied, "! told you no more dogs, we simply can't afford to feed them." But Mama, I said, "Her daddy was going to drown the poor little thing." I just
couldn't bear it!" "Oh come on Mama, have a heart woman she's so tiny and she couldn't possibly eat much" he said.

Daddy said, "Come on, hold her and see how tiny she is." Mama wiped her forehead with her apron and sat down in a kitchen chair by the stove. Mama said "Alright I'll feel of her just to please you but she goes back in the morning." I handed Snowball to her and the puppy immediately began to cuddle up to Mama and began licking Mama's nose. Daddy was sitting on the wood box over by
the stove. He looked at me and winked. I knew Snowball was winning Mama over even if she wouldn't admit it.

Mama said, "Let me feel of that coat you got. I walked over to where she was sitting and Mama reached out and felt of my coat. Seems to me it's a mighty warm coat" she said. "Do them dishes have flowers on them?' she asked. Even if Mama couldn't see, she loved pretty things. "Oh yes, Mama, they have beautiful pink roses on them!" I said. Pink roses were Mama's favorite flower.

As Mama handed Snowball back to me, she said "Now listen young lady and listen hard, You are responsible for taking care of this dog." I was so happy that I was speechless. I grabbed Mama and hugged her hard. I said "Oh thank you Mama, thank you. I promise that I will take good care of her!" And that's how Snowball came into our lives.

Story continued next time, Part 3 "SNOWBALL SAVES OUR LIVES"

—Detta Davis