One summer evening, Daddy came home from work carrying a cute little puppy in his arms.
"Where did you get that cute puppy?" Mommy asked.
"The mommy dog belongs to my friend at work, "said Daddy.
"She had 5 puppies and they are all ready to leave their mother. This one was the cutest and prettiest of the litter so I picked her to be our very own dog."
"It's a surprise for the children," he told her.
"They'll find her when they wake up in the morning."
"They certainly will be surprised," said Mommy," and very happy too."
She found a large box and lined it with a little blanket to make a soft bed for the little dog.
They put the box in a corner of their bedroom.
The puppy went right to sleep and so did Mom and Dad.
Bright and early the next morning, four year old Mark awoke and, as he did every morning, he crept quietly into his parents' bedroom.
Usually he would find a large picture book or some crayons and paper there.
Usually he would sit there quietly and read or draw until mom or dad would awaken.
This morning, however, he saw the box in the corner.
Of course, he peeked into it.
At first he thought there was a toy dog in the box.
But the little puppy stirred and awoke.
Mark caught his breath in surprise and laughed out loud.
Mom and Dad awoke. "Good morning, Mark, " said Mom.
"Look, look," said Mark with excitement.
"Mommy there's a puppy in this room!"
"There is?" asked Dad." I wonder how she got there!"
"I guess," said Mark, "this puppy knows how to open doors!"
Mom and Dad laughed.
The next moment, little brother Jonnie came into the room.
He looked down into the box and clapped his hands for joy when he saw the puppy.
The puppy was now fully awake. She jumped up and licked Jonnie's face.
Jonnie laughed.
Then she jumped right into Mark's outstretched arms and licked his face too.
The boys were delighted. They listened carefully as Daddy told them about their new pet.
"Now you have a puppy of your very own, " he said," and you must take care of her.
If you will be her friend, she will be yours."
After breakfast, Dad went out to work. Mom began her chores and the boys went outdoors to play.
Soon it was time for lunch and Mommy came out to the yard to fetch the children. They were nowhere to be seen.
"Mark! Jon!" called Mommy as loudly as she could "Where are you?"
In a few moments, the boys came huffing and puffing into the yard. Their new running little puppy at their heels.
"Where have you been?" Mommy asked them.
"Oh, Mommy," said Mark breathlessly, "our doggy ran out of the yard into the street and she almost got run over by a car. But she didn't!"
"That was lucky, "said Mommy.
"Then, " said Mark," she ran into the bushes and almost got lost. But she didn't"
"Good," said Mommy.
"Then," said Mark, "she ran into the pond and almost drowned! But she didn't!
You know what, Mommy? I'm going to name my new puppy 'Almost.'"
And that is how Almost got her name.
