“Marshmallow!” She said dead serious tone.  I could hear the smile in her voice.  

Marshmallow?  I thought in disbelief.  You’ve got to be kidding me.  Right?

“Eh… No!”  I said looking at the dog.  

He gave me triangle eyes, with his head cocked to the side.  One floppy ear up while the other stayed down.  He didn’t like it either.  It was a perfect ‘are you serious’ face.

“Why not, it’s cute he’s so white and fluffy” She defended her choice.

I looked back at her.  She had her arms crossed while her bottom lip stuck out slightly in a pout.  “No I’m not naming him Marshmallow.  That name will cause doggy suicide.  And have you seen him, he’s fur and bones.”  He nipped me gently when I called him bones.  I pulled my hand away.  He was smiling, that cheeky fur ball.  

Chelsea saw and laughed out loud.  “Aren’t you a feisty one”  She cooed to the dog.  From the rear view mirror I saw Kyla’s eyes light up at the word feisty.

“No!”  I said.  She slumped back into her chair.

I looked at the dog.  He really did need a name calling him Dog, Pup, and Puppy is getting old.  I looked into his deep brown eyes.  He was more human than dog, the way he always knew what was going on.  I grinned and he returned it with a smile of his own.  A mischievous gleam sparked in his eye.

Mischievous, hmm.  Mischief, Naughty, Trouble… eh, Rascal.

“Rascal”  I said out loud.  He barked his approval.  I looked back at Kyla.

“Rascal, Rascal.”  She repeated a few times.  “I like it!”  She leaned forward and rubbed his head.  “What about you?  You like the name Rascal!”  A happy yip was her answer.  

We all laughed.  I ruffled the fur between his ears and he hoped onto my lap.  After licking my face a few time -much to Kyla and Chelsea’s amusement- he stuck his head out the window, and let out to happy barks.  

We all laughed and patted him.  I hugged Rascal so tight I wasn’t sure if he could breath.  

He was now part of the family.  And the first thing I need to do is put some meat on those bones.  

He sat there on my lap with his head out and tongue flapping in the wind.  

I dug around my backpack for my sunglasses, and placed them over my eyes.  A small smile playing on my lips.  I still had everything on my mind, but we were going to be alright.  Kyla grinned at me through the rear view mirror.  

My confidence was renewed and I felt a spark ignite deep inside.

Once again “Thank you Dog!”