Short Story- Don't take things for Granted

       There lived a dog named Percy, who had a son Lucky and his mate Lassie. They lived in the backyard of their owners house. They were truly loved, but Percy had a problem. Percy loved to gamble with the other animals leaving his family most of the time and was mean sometimes. The other animals were Roscoe the biggest dog, Fanny the cat, and booda bare and boda bare, the other dogs. Percy was the leader of these animals and came up with the idea to gamble. Everything was going Percys' way until one tragic day when Percys' life would be changed forever.  
       One bright and sunny morning on a Tuesday, Percy got up to receive his usual morning breakfast which was bacon and sausages. As their owner came out to the backyard to give them food, all Percy could think about was the pork chops he would get later for his dinner meal. Today Percy was feeling lucky to make a big gamble, so he was just waiting until later. Lassie and Lucky came to receive their food. As the owner left Percy spoke to his mate " Tonight is the night where I will make a big bet so I will need your bones and Luckys' bones" he said. 
"You will not take our food, you say the same thing every Tuesday. Don't you think that's enough Percy?" said Lassie
"It will never be enough. You know I must win every time. I am superior to the others, they look up to me" 
"I don't know what happens to you, but one day you are going to get caught and we will probably too" said Lassie.  
"You worry to much Lassie, look Lucky's just fine." As Lassie walked away towards their puppy she shook her head. Percy waited until dawn when their next meal came. Just as he had predicted the dogs got pork chops. As the owner left once more Percy got ready to go. He went over to his mate and puppy and asked for their pork chops. "Percy.... take mine and not Luckys'" whined Lassie.
"No I need both" said Percy retrieving the chops. Percy headed towards the escape fence he goes through. He then headed to the back alley where all the animals meet. Roscoe was the first of the animals to come and he had a big bone in between his teeth. Then the twin dogs came with two legs each. Last was Fanny who just had tuna with her. She didn't fit in, but she was a great gambler.
 " Dogs and cat lets let the game begin" said Percy. They all sat around a crate, the dogs wagging their tails, being intently in the game. In the middle of the game, as the pile of food lay on the crate, Percy announced he was likely to win. When the game was towards the end Percy barked at booda for cheating. Since he was caught cheating he wasn't allowed to participate in the games anymore. He was sent away. At one point though Percy heard Lassie,
"Percy the owner is looking for you" 
"Not now I'm busy" he said. 
"PERCY" she barked. Just then as Percy looked a van appeared and it said ANIMAL CONTROL in bold letters. As each animal was about to run five men came out of the truck surrounding them. Roscoe the big dog fought back and got loose, but one man went after him. Fanny the cat was caught. As Percy was fighting back he saw to his right that they had caught Lassie. He barked and bit the man while boda got caught. He tried to save the others especially Lassie, but the men started to leave and Percy started running after the van. Lassie barked as did Percy and the other animals whined. Percy didn't know what to do because the van was moving to fast. Through the window Lassie started to speak about Lucky. She said
"Tell lucky I lov........................" by then it was to late. The van had left and Lassie was gone. She wouldn't return. 


Late at night, it started to rain. Percy was laying in the alley whining for all that had happened in the day, and just a fence away was his little puppy Lucky waiting for his parents to return. Little did he know, his mother wouldn't return at all. All for Percy who didn't listen to Lassie and worried about gambling too much. He should have payed attention to his family instead, because after all family is the most important thing.