Canine Kisses - Chapter 1

It was a gorgeous sunny day for the outdoor graduation ceremony on the quad. When Dr. Stevens, the dean of students, saw Kaybri Lynn seated with her classmates, she left the faculty processional for a moment to say something strange in Kaybri’s ear. “Come see me after the ceremony. I have a contract for you.”   

     Had she said contract or contact? What could this be about? But first Kaybri had to give her speech. She was the valedictorian of her class of fifty-four at the California School of Veterinary Medicine.  

     When the moment came for the college president to introduce her, he almost spoke her childhood and legal name, given to him by the registrar. He started to say “Esth—" when Dr. Stevens interrupted him by pulling on his arm. She then whispered something in his ear. The president shook his head and apologized to the audience before calling up “Kaybri Lynn, our esteemed valedictorian” to the lectern.  

     As Kaybri made her way down the aisle and onto the dais, she couldn’t help but notice how restrained the applause was. The quad was filled with her classmates and their family members who had come to see them graduate, but no one was there to see her. She had no family. But she was used to being alone. And she realized she was lucky to hear any applause at all. Some of her classmates had circulated a petition asking the school’s administration to give the valedictory honor to “someone who had been supportive to their classmates and not obsessively dedicated to their own success.” Fortunately, Dr. Stevens had quashed it, and now Kaybri stood ready to accept the honor.    

     Kaybri’s ten-minute speech told of her personal story including the many obstacles she had overcome in order to go to college and then to get into vet school. She had wanted to say as little as possible, but Dr. Stevens had convinced her to try to savor her time in the limelight and had helped her write “something appropriate to the occasion.” The speech garnered some scattered applause but none of the enthusiasm that had greeted the other speeches.  

     When she finished, Kaybri was handed her diploma by the president. Instead of returning to her seat, Kaybri left the ceremony before her classmates received their diplomas. She was eager to see Dr. Stevens and find out what she meant by a contract or contact.  

     She waited in Dr. Stevens’s office for almost an hour. When she finally showed up, Dr. Stevens was still wearing her ceremonial robes, and Kaybri immediately realized how bad it looked that she had left the ceremony early. She was always disappointing people. Dr. Stevens had been so nice to her, and Kaybri cared what she thought.  

     “Congratulations on your achievement, Kaybri. Nice speech. Were you nervous?”  

     “What’s this about a contract?” Kaybri had little patience with pleasantries.  

     Dr. Stevens’s already big smile grew even wider. “Kaybri, a veterinarian in Pennsylvania—my husband’s cousin—has made a gift to you of his veterinary practice. It’s an incredible opportunity. We’ve never seen anything like this happen at this school!”  

     Kaybri took a few steps backwards and put a hand on the arm of a chair to steady herself.  

     “Someone is giving me their practice. How is that possible?”  

     “Sit down.” Dr. Stevens took Kaybri’s shaking hands in hers. “Technically, he’s selling it to you. For one dollar. That’s all he wants.” She handed Kaybri an official-looking document.  

     “I don’t understand. Why would someone give their practice to a new graduate? What are you not telling me?”   

     “There’s nothing to tell. He asked for the best qualified candidate and someone who appreciates challenges. The contract in your hands was delivered this morning.” Dr. Stevens looked like she had never been more excited in her entire life.  

     “Where is it?”  

     “Lancaster, Pennsylvania.”  

     Kaybri tried to process this piece of information along with everything else. It was so much to take in at once. “I’ve never been out of California. How far away is that? Is it cold there?”   

     “Kaybri! This is a unique and wonderful opportunity that will change the course of your life. Frank and Dorothy Stevens are two of the most generous and kind people I know. Start selling or giving away the things you can’t bring!  

     “Today?”  

     “Well, here’s the thing. He’d like you to come as soon as possible. One month from now, at the latest. You’re needed there. He is having some medical issues.”   

     “I think I need to talk to him to find out more about this. Can I really just take over someone’s vet practice, just like that, right out of school?”  

     “Yes, you can! And yes you can speak to him. Let’s do that right now.”  

     She dialed the number, and the next thing Kaybri knew she was on the phone with the kindest-sounding man who described a beautiful small town of rolling green hills and lots of horses and farms everywhere. He assured her she would have plenty of support in running the practice. He wanted her because of her unique devotion to animals.  

     “Abigail told me that you foster dogs in your home and have been providing free care to sick dogs who are sometimes left at the school by desperate owners who can’t afford to care for them. Those are the qualities I’m looking for in my replacement.”   

     Kaybri hadn’t realized that anyone knew about that. She glanced at Dr. Stevens, who nodded and gave her a sweet smile. She now knew why the dean had taken such an interest in her when no one else had.  

     By the time their brief conversation was ending, Kaybri had made her decision. I’ve never belonged anywhere. Maybe Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is where I’ll finally belong. 

     Dr. Stevens opened her desk drawer and pulled out an envelope. “This is from me. You’ll need money for driving cross-country. There will be lots of gas refills and a few hotel rooms along the way.”  

     “Thank you,” Kaybri said quietly as she wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. Dr. Stevens gave her a big hug and sent her home to get ready for her new life.  

     For the next two weeks, Kaybri put her things in order. None of her furniture was worth transporting, and her mattress and sheets were ready for the landfill. Kaybri had spent every dollar she’d earned on the part of her tuition her scholarship didn’t cover.  

     When she was finally ready to go, she threw two bags of clothing and six boxes of books into the rear of her ’93 Chevy pickup. She positioned herself behind the wheel, took a deep breath, and punched the address for the Frank Stevens Veterinary Clinic into her phone. Other than two nights at cheap motels, Kaybri drove for twelve hours each day to cover the 2,200 miles.  

     Upon finally entering the lush farmlands of southeastern Pennsylvania, she slowed her pace to admire the endless fields of corn, massive red barns painted with colorful hex signs, and the occasional horse-drawn Amish buggy. The green serenity of the countryside spoke of a permanence that dramatically differed from her life in California. Kaybri inhaled the fresh summer air and then tried to exhale away her painful childhood in California and the conflicts she seemed to have with everyone other than dogs.