Dear Violet, Part 6

You were such a brave soldier at the hospital today. It was clear you were scared, but you let them poke you and stretch you and rotate you, with little but a quiver now and again. You even gave the veterinary student a dainty kiss on the chin when she was done with her examination.

You’ll have your surgery next week. The radiographs indicated that you’ve been working on this injury for a lot longer than I thought you had. Growing a bunch of bone around the knee to protect it! I had no idea you were working so hard. Well, that bone is going to need to be shaved down and the cruciate repaired. I hope it’s not too painful and you recover quickly and, in a few months, I can let you off-leash again. In the meantime, you may be feeling really resentful toward me, but know that I’m feeling even more guilty about it.

I would do anything for you, Violet. You know I’m very careful with my money. I don’t buy shit I don’t need, I don’t carry a balance on my Visa, and I don’t do debt. But between today’s visit ($317), the surgery ($2,800-3,200), and future follow-ups ($?), it’s going to be expensive. I’ve just taken out a $4,100 line of credit, which the vet school folks think should cover it (knock wood).

And I want you to know, I’d gladly pay double that, triple that, I don’t care, because you’re my baby.

Here’s a dainty kiss for you: mwah!

Love,

Amy