Walking along the shore line, I pass a black Labrador puppy, peeing, his ears flapping in the wind. He looks up at me, and I grin. His owner, a beefy islander (you know da kine, eh), has stopped a little ways ahead, waiting.
I continue walking, then look back. The pup is still watching me, and still peeing. I smile at him. He finishes his business, looks at his owner, looks back at me, and in a split second decides, I’m with her! and makes a dash for me.
I stop and kneel down to receive him. He comes right up, giving me a little puppy grin. I stroke his silky black head as we regard each other. He doesn’t jump around, fidget or frolic, he just stands there quietly, smiling, surprisingly self-contained for such a youngster.
We bask in our demure little love fest.
Kimo! yells his owner. The puppy doesn’t respond. Kimo, shouts the man again, then begins ambling over. When he reaches us, Kimo looks up at him briefly, then back at me, and doesn’t budge. I laugh.
He doesn’t wanna go, I say to the owner, he wants to be with me.
The man smiles. Kimo, come here, he says, picking the pup up.
As he leaves, little Kimo turns his head to look back at me. I smile and give him a wave.
Then I walk away, my heart filled with the joy and delight that is the little black puppy’s gift to me.
Life is good, eh!
Press PUPPY LOVE
AHHHH! Lab puppies are the best.