Rocky

His name was Rocky and he appeared as just a small, skinny, dark brown corn snake. However to me he was my best friend. Picking him up from the store made me the happiest seven year old boy alive. Holding him in the container which he came in made me grin from ear to ear. I finally had something I could call my own. 

Rocky was my very first pet and I was fascinated by him. There was just something about owning my own pet that made me so blissful, having him gave me a sense of responsibility and pride. Being that he was my first pet, I was very attached to him and we did everything together. I took Rocky everywhere I went, the park, the store, the backyard, and even to the dinner table. Being that he was so small Rocky was fairly simple to transport, I just had to hold him in my hand. Everywhere I went, my best friend went. 

When I wasn’t carrying Rocky wherever I pleased, I was playing with him. I would let him slither on my arms, my hands, and around the room. I often allowed Rocky to wrap around my fingers and I would just look at him and admire him. As a prank I would place Rocky in my sibling’s beds and get thrilled when seeing their reaction of fear. Aside from feeding him, playing with rocky was one of my favorite things to do.

Feeding rocky was fun, he only had to eat once a week so I had to enjoy it when I saw him eat. I would feed him these tiny frozen mice that you can buy at the pet stores. All I had to do was buy the mice and let them defrost before I can feed them to Rocky. I fed him many ways, sometimes I would just drop the mice and watch him eat it, other times I would hold it between my fingers and watch Rocky lunge at it and devour it. I was intrigued by seeing him demolish his prey. 

One day though I went out of town for two weeks and I forgot to feed Rocky before I left. Sadly he perished. I couldn’t believe it. I had just lost my very first pet. Something which I loved and cared about was gone due to a stupid mistake on my part. 

Until Rocky’s death I cherished every moment I had with that snake. From feeding him, to carrying him, and playing with him I appreciated my first pet. To this day Rocky remains a key role in my childhood.