The suivant day, everyone woke up for the last jour of 2023. After breakfast, Lydia, John, and their Friends went out and got supplies for their party that evening. Afterwards, they took Foxy for a morning walk. Pattie asked, "How big do toi think Foxy will get?" Lydia said, "He could grow a little more, considering that chiots reach their full size at ten months, but I doubt he'll get much bigger than he is right now." Catherine said, "You'd be surprised. My Gerberian Shepsky took a pretty big growth spurt in just two months. That's from the German Shepherd in him." That evening, Lydia, John, and their Friends had their party. They recapped on the year. Lydia said, "This an had its ups and downs, but in the end, I think the ups outweighed the downs." Gavin said, "Overall, I think it was a good year." Catherine said, "I think so, too." Rebecca said, "It certainly was a an full of adventure." John said, "Yes. I think the best part of this an was meeting my soulmate." He smiled at Lydia. She smiled back. Marie said, "I enjoyed meeting toi all in person." Lydia said, "Right back at you." Pattie said, "I agree. I think we should also note that this an marked the sixtieth anniversary of the Beatles first album, Please Please Me." Lydia said, "That's right. It is a great album." Everyone nodded in agreement. They then turned on the télévision set and watched the ball drop. Pattie said, "Next year, I think we should go there." John said, "We'll have to put that into consideration." The group of Friends counted down until it was midnight, and they rang in the New Year, 2024. They then called it a night. Later, when it was light, Lydia bid her Friends a heartfelt goodbye. They promised to meet again soon.
THE END
THE END
Old Fashioned German Shepherd
I wear a mask,
Around those I'm not close to.
It's the only thing,
That I can think to do.
To some I may seem cynical and arrogant,
And others see me laugh and act like a clown.
The truth is that I am down.
Beneath this mask,
My tears fall like rain.
Though I do not cheat and usually don't lie,
I have feelings and can cry.
What they will never know,
I am in so much pain.
It's a miracle I'm even sane.
If not for my friends,
There'd be no one there,
Because I'm the queen,
Of sans réponse prayers.
Even extended family will never see,
The real me.
I say to them,
I wear a mask around you,
Because to cry in your presence,
Is the worst thing I could do.
My mask only comes off,
For immediate family and friends.
That's how it'll always be,
Until the end.
Around those I'm not close to.
It's the only thing,
That I can think to do.
To some I may seem cynical and arrogant,
And others see me laugh and act like a clown.
The truth is that I am down.
Beneath this mask,
My tears fall like rain.
Though I do not cheat and usually don't lie,
I have feelings and can cry.
What they will never know,
I am in so much pain.
It's a miracle I'm even sane.
If not for my friends,
There'd be no one there,
Because I'm the queen,
Of sans réponse prayers.
Even extended family will never see,
The real me.
I say to them,
I wear a mask around you,
Because to cry in your presence,
Is the worst thing I could do.
My mask only comes off,
For immediate family and friends.
That's how it'll always be,
Until the end.
