4th Grade: "New Surroundings"

By the time 4th grade came around, Dutch had joined the police force and we adopted Anka, a retired police dog from Germany. She was older, about seven or eight and she was the nicest dog I had ever known. In the winter, she would pull my sister and I around in the sled then she would hop in and my sister and I would pull her around. In the summer, she would let our neighbor's kittens snuggle up next to her to take a nap. 4th grade was the year that my mom decided to go back to school, and I packed up my room, tearfully said goodbye to my home and the oak tree and moved into a small bungalow in a crowded neighborhood. I remember one evening sitting on a park bench with my dad as Anka slept on the grass beside us. I took in my new surroundings. 

On the road, cars zoomed back and forth as and I wondered where each of them was going and why they were in such a hurry. Over by the swing set, a lady on her cell phone was yelling at someone in a language I didn't understand as she watched her toddler on the swings. Off in the distance police sirens began to wail, it was a sound that I wasn't used to hearing, but it was common here. Whenever Anka heard them, she would jump to her feet and listen because that sound used to signal her to be prepared to work. When they stopped she would relax and happily return to her nap. The air smelled like freshly cut grass, which was a smell I was fond of, but when the wind blew the smell of exhaust and burning rubber filled the air. I wasn't fond of my new home, there was nothing comforting about it and I felt claustrophobic. However, I knew better than to complain because I could tell my parents were doing the best they could and we would have to make the best of the situation until my mom finished school and we had the money to move into a better neighborhood. I glanced over to look at my dad, he looked tired so I grabbed his hand and rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. Below me Anka snored quietly. I took a deep breath and finally felt at peace. Home is wherever my family is.

"Let it Go" Tim Mcgraw