LOST: MY BEST FRIEND(Chris Knitter) All throughout my childhood years I can remember having a great love and admiration for all kinds of dogs. One dog in particular, the Labrador, was my favorite, especially Black Labradors.

It had been a dream of mine to have one of my very own, as far back as I can remember. I expressed this to my parents, but they always said Labs were to expensive. We just didn't have enough room for it to run, because we lived in the suburbs.

Time went by and my love for this beautiful animal grew, as I did also. Finally at the beginning of my senior year of high school, my parents decided to move from the suburbs to the country. My dream had finally come true. My parents asked me to go with them to pick out a Labrador puppy.

When we got to the farm there were only five puppies left. I decided to pick each one up to get a closer look. And besides who could resist picking up puppies? They all looked the same to me, and I wanted to see if one was any different from the rest.

After I picked up the first four, I thought it would be a tough decision. All the dogs seemed to have the same layed back, bored expression. The last one I picked up was the runt of the litter. One of the reasons I picked him up last was because I had a bit of trouble tying to catch him.

The puppy's owner told me he didn't think I wanted that one, it was the runt. As I examined him, I looked right into his eyes, bringing him close to my face. Runt or not I knew this was the one I wanted, because he licked my face. That little show of affection was all I needed to know that this was my dog.

Remax (as we later came to call him) wasn't mine per say, but it didn't matter, because I had a Lab. As turned out I spent most of my free time with Remax (Reginould Maximillian Jetson) and we had some great experiences together. I taught him to sit, heel and stay before he was one year old. I was pretty proud of myself, but I was told, Labs are very easy to train.

Among other bad habits, Remax felt the need to chew on any little nick-knack he found on the floor. I found pens, combs, and one time he chewed up my favorite watch. I quickly showed him that I was not at all happy about my watch becoming his mid-afternoon snack.

Remax also liked to chase ducks in our neighbors stagnant duck pond. I was the one who usually ended up having to wash him. He typically slept in my bed and there was no way I would allow it smelling like that. It sometimes took as many as 3 trips to the bathtub before he was allowed into the house.

Being the escape artist that he was, it wasn't uncommon for him to disappear for a little while. We tried and tried to keep him secure in his pen when we were away.

One day Remax didn't come back. The neighbors said he was stealing lunches from men who were working on some houses nearby. Maybe one of them took him. I searched for days, called him for hours, and worried alot.

I never found out what happened to Remax. But I can only hope that someone realizes what a great dog they have, and takes care of him. And maybe someday, I'll go home, and see a Black Labrador playing in that stagnant duck pond, and know that my best friend has come home.

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