"Trunky! Trunky!" I wail, thrashing on my bed. Tears stream down my cheeks, and my tangled auburn hair sticks to my wet face. My emerald eyes dart around the room, wide with horror. "I need my elephant!"

Daddy is on the floor, shining a flashlight everywhere. "Where is it, Hilda? Did you hide it somewhere?" he asks, his voice sounding tired.

Mommy stands in the corner, rubbing her head. "Connor, please God, find the freaking elephant before I lose it," she says. Her voice is all wobbly and she looks like she might cry. I’m not sure why. I’m the one who lost my darn elephant!

"Trunky!" I scream again, kicking my legs and pounding the bed with my fists. The room feels like it's spinning, and I just want my pink elephant.

My breath comes in gasps, and I start hiccuping from crying so hard. My legs kick the covers off the bed, and I fling my pillow onto the floor. I roll onto my stomach and pound my fists into the mattress. "I need Trunky now!" I shout, my voice hoarse and scratchy from screaming so much.

Daddy is now on his hands and knees, searching under the dresser. "Hilda, calm down, please," he pleads, his voice cracking. The flashlight beam wobbles as he searches frantically. "Where could it be?"

Mommy's hands are shaking as she massages her temples. She starts pacing back and forth, her eyes darting around the room. "Connor, we need to find it now. I can't take much more of this," she whispers, but I can still hear the panic in her voice.

"Trunky!" I scream, louder this time, my voice echoing off the walls. I sit up and throw my stuffed bunny across the room. "I don't want Bunny, I want Trunky!"

The door creaks open, and Ladybird, our beagle with floppy ears, trots into the room. She jumps on the bed and licks my face, her tail wagging. Her warm tongue tickles my cheeks, and I stop crying for a moment. I look at her, and she looks back with her big, brown eyes.

And then, out of her mouth drops... Trunky! My pink elephant!

"Trunky!" I scream, grabbing him and hugging him tight. My tears stop, and I smile so big my cheeks hurt.

Mommy and Daddy both sigh really loud. Mommy even laughs a little. "Thank God," she says, shaking her head and smiling at Daddy.

Daddy gets up and ruffles my hair. "Goodnight, Hilda," he says, giving me a kiss.

"Goodnight, sweetie," Mommy adds, kissing my forehead. They both pat Ladybird, who looks very proud of herself.

I snuggle under my covers with Trunky, feeling safe and happy again. "Goodnight, Trunky," I whisper.

As they turn off the light and close the door, I hear Daddy say, "Maybe we should get a backup Trunky."

Mommy laughs. "Or two."

And just like that, the chaos is over, and I fall asleep with Trunky right by my side.

Moral of the story? Dog is a girl’s best friend. Wait, did I say dog? I meant Trunky. 😊