my poodle Coco came into the world in march 1994. i was only 7 then. yet i remember she was this light-brown little furball when i first caught sight of her. her fur was so soft and cottony. her tail was round like that of a bunny and it was always wagging. Coco became my best friend. she would stick to me like glue. for all 14 years of her life, her biological clock had always been accurate, it's SCARY. no matter what she would be doing (sleeping, eating, roaming around...), she would dash to the front door to wait for me to come back from school when it was time. she would also wait for my mum to come back from work every single day (during lunchtime and in the evenings). that's how loyal she was.
it was amazing how she could sense when i was down. she'd lick my leg, lie at my feet or jump onto the couch to sit right next to me. not only was she good natured towards us humans, she was also a wonderful friend to our miniature pinscher, Kiki. it was really funny how she allowed that little devil to sit on her head (literally) or snatch her food away. usually after Kiki takes a bath, my mum would wrap her in a towel and put her under the sun (because she'd constantly be shivering), and Coco would just lie next to her as though to accompany her!
when i left for college, Coco would sleep in front of my room door wondering when i would be back. the minute i arrived home she'd be jumping for joy and would start following me around. she was able to sense when it was time for me to go back to KL. when she saw my luggages, she would depressingly hide under the table. "wait for me to come back soon, k, Co?" i'd always tell her before i hopped into the car. and the same events would take place over and over again each time i came back.
over the last 2 years Coco aged so quickly she became blind and almost deaf. she slept most of the time but tried her best to accompany me whenever i was home. unfortunately, one of the things i feared most happened. today, i received a call from my mother saying Coco passed away on thursday of heart failure. they had trouble deciding on how to break the news to me. my dad buried her in my garden and made a wooden signage to commemorate our faithful little friend of 14 years. i am crying my eyes out and i feel like crap. i just never expected to see the last of her the last time i was back home before semester 5 started. she had always been healthy. old, yes, but it didn't seem as though she was going to leave so soon. and i was looking so forward to going home during the raya break next friday. i guess she just couldn't wait another week.
nevertheless i am glad i spent my 3 weeks back home with her. in fact, the night before i left, i decided to hug her so tightly and for a good ten minutes instead of just petting her on her head or scratching her belly or just carrying her like i always did. it was as though that happened for a reason.
Coco, thank you for always being there for me and for looking out for me. i'm grateful to be able to have you as my pet and best friend, and that you had a wholesome 14 years of your life with people who loved you and treated you so well. another consolation is that i'm very sure you're in some place happier now, with the One who loves you more! i dont care what people say - that animals don't have souls. because if you don't have a soul then i don't see how humans can have souls! so i'm expecting to see you up there when my time comes. love you Coco. i miss you.
Coco, my beloved toy poodle.
March 1994 - 18 Sept 2008.
p/s: Coco's most favourite food in the world was CHEESE. lol. she'd go nuts whenever i took cheese out of the fridge (for myself). very cute.
