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LENNY-LEE FEST!

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There are many, many amazing people out there who I have met through blogging, but one of the most spectacular has to be Lenny Lee of Lenny’s World. Lenny’s an 11-year-old writer who is both encouraging and admirable, and has amazing strength and courage. He views each day as an opportunity to learn and grow, and I love that about him! Lenny has figured out things about writing that boggles my mind, a clear indication that he will one day be a force to be reckoned with when he becomes a career writer. (Remember, you heard it here first, world! Lenny will be Famous!!)

With such an incredible zest for life, Lenny could be hanging out with any crowd of folks on the net, so I feel especially lucky he’s chosen us writers to share his sunny spirit with. So, we’ve gotten together and dubbed today LENNY FEST, showing our admiration for this great guy. I hope each of you will head over to Lenny’s World to grab a bit of his sunshine for yourself!

To show my appreciation for Lenny and all he gives to others through his uplifting blog and bright personality, I’m sharing one of the first stories I ever wrote & tried to get published. I have resisted the urge to edit it because I want Lenny to know how much I admire his journey to become a stronger writer. We all started from somewhere, didn’t we? Anyway, I hope you like it, Lenny. I can’t think of anyone I would rather dedicate this story to.

My Pet Human
By
Angela Ackerman (2004)
     Ever since I was a puppy, I’ve wanted a human of my very own. When I was finally old enough and ready for the challenge, I decided it was time to select out a human pet.
     Picking out a human isn’t easy. They come in all shapes and sizes.
     I didn’t want one too young. They can be loud, drool all over everything, and are hard to look after. Besides – they aren’t toilet trained!
     I didn’t want one that was too old either. They don’t want to play very much and might not hear me when I call them.
     I sat patiently at the Pet Store, waiting for the right human to come along. At last I saw him. He was perfect – not too young, not too old. He looked like he would be easy to care for. He had a nice smile and was a great ear scratcher.
     When we got home, I knew it was important to start his training right away. I needed to show him who was in charge. After all, this human is my pet, not the other way around!
     First, I let my human know that some places were off limits. I set aside a cozy chair for him to lounge on. This was his spot. He needed to stay off of everything else. The last thing I wanted was to have human hair all over my furniture.
     It’s important that my human learns good behavior, too. Fooling around and being loud is okay some of the time, but there’s a time and place for it. I like to enjoy my quiet time with no interruptions.
     At night, I let him sleep on the bed with me. Most owners don’t let their pets sleep with them. I hope my human appreciates how lucky he is. He sleeps at the edge of the bed. I need to be in the middle if I want to get a good night’s sleep.
     Exercise is necessary for my pet to stay healthy. I take him out for long walks, using a collar and leash. Wearing them is uncomfortable, but it works well to keep my human from running off.
     We have a great time together – he is very well behaved for a human. When it is time to reward him for being good, I put my head on his lap and let him scratch my ears. He talks to me and rubs my tummy. When I wag my tail, it seems to make him happy. Humans are very easy to please.
     Having a human for a pet makes me feel complete. I am very happy with my choice. He makes a wonderful companion. A dog with a human by his side is just the way it’s supposed to be.

Well, that’s my story. I hope you enjoyed it, Lenny! Thanks so much for being a bright spot in the blogosphere. 🙂

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Katrina S. Forest says

    That was awesome to read. I think the first thing I tried to publish was a poem sent to Highlights. The very first story I wrote was entitled, “The Prettiest Flower,” penned at age four on construction paper. My awesome mom still has it.

  4. Susan Fields says

    This made me laugh! My favorite part: “I set aside a cozy chair for him to lounge on. This was his spot.” I can totally imagine my dog thinks the same thing about me!

    Thanks so much for sharing, and hooray for Lenny!

  11. Becca Puglisi says

    Lenny is such a beautiful person. I hope he’s blessed by your first story. And Angela, you are almost as brave as him for posting it. Although, I must say, it’s pretty good for a first!

    Becca

  17. Angela Ackerman says

    Thanks everyone for your comments and visits to Lenny! He’s an amazing person–one of those rare people with a spark so bright he affects everyone around him. I hope he knows now just how much he means to others!

    Angela

  18. Lola Sharp says

    Aw, love this. (and I think they do choose us…or at least make us their butlers 😉

    We love you Lenny!

    Happy sunshiny weekend, Angela.
    Hugs,
    Lola

  26. Melissa says

    Ha! I enjoyed your story of a dog selecting a human for a pet. Cute and creative!

    I’ve added Lenny’s blog to my Google Reader. 😀

  30. Alyssia says

    Thanks so much for this, Angela. Truly, reading Lenny’s blog this morning just made my day. What a wonderful little person, and to see he’s a young writer, diligently pursuing his craft, rejecting those nasty rejections, learning how to hone his characters, etc… what an inspiration!! We all need this ray of sunshine every now and again, don’t we? Perhaps a lot more than we’re willing to admit.

    Have a great weekend, everyone!

  31. Trisha says

    Thanks for the link to Lenny! Yay for alliteration! hehe. seriously now, one of the things I love most about the blogging community is how much the friendships people form mean to them. It’s just a great thing to see!