At the end, the winner was up in the air because while Maynard had brought every ball back, Jock had then gained possession of the ball before tossing it again.Jock threw himself on the grass near the patio and spread his arms wide.
The red and gold was gone now, replaced by indigo and purple, the sun no longer visible along the western horizon.In addition to the moon, now looking significantly larger, there was a blanket of stars coming into view.
“What a grand life we have, Maynard.”
Weight covered his lower legs, heat from knee to ankle.He lifted his head to see Maynard stretched out over him.A groan from nearer the house announced Tank pushing to his feet.A couple moments later, the mastiff was stretched out beside him, head on Jock’s shoulder.
“Grand life.”
***
He’d found a greatlittle dog park not too far from the house, and a couple of days before Silly would be home, he loaded both dogs into the truck and drove over.He’d already taken care of the paperwork to be able to access the park.All it took was putting the dogs’ vaccine history on file at a local vet.Kent sent everything over email, and within the space of a single phone call, he’d sorted it.
The parking lot was nearly deserted, only two additional cars he could see.Inside the fence, a lone man was throwing a stick for a big happy-looking lab.
“Looking like we picked a good time to visit for the first time.”He got out of the truck and retrieved both dogs, and they made their way to the gate.Built like a sallyport, he opened the outside gate and arranged both dogs inside the small space.With one dog it wouldn’t have been an issue, but with Tank and Maynard?It was a tight fit.
Once inside, he unclipped their leashes.Tank looked up as if for instructions, so Jock told him, “Go on, explore.I’ll play with little man here.”As if he understood him, Tank turned to do a patrol of the fence line, stopping every few yards to sprinkle a dominant claim.
Maynard stayed beside Jock, his eyes locked on the other man in the enclosure.Jock pulled a ball from his pocket and got Maynard’s attention, noting how often the dog glanced at the other man.“It’s okay, buddy.I won’t let anything happen to you.”He got to one knee and made a show of straightening Maynard’s flower-covered pajamas.“Look at how handsome you are, big boy.You ready to play a little?Huh?”Maynard’s tension level was visibly lower, and Jock stood and threw the ball in a single motion.
Maynard took off after the ball and caught it on the third bounce.He rounded a tree, ran past Tank, and arrowed straight back to Jock.He dropped the ball at his feet.
“Good boy,” Jock said as he tousled Maynard’s head.“Not so fast, maybe.Take your time, buddy.”
He threw the ball again, this time arching it far up into the air.Maynard anticipated the landing point and caught the ball on the first bounce.This time he ran a circle around the lab and their owner before coming back to Jock and dropping the ball while he pranced in place.
“Oh, looking to make friends?”He threw the ball again, this time in the opposite direction of the other pair, and he laughed out loud when Maynard gave him a dirty look.Still, the lure of the ball was too much, and he took off after it.“We need to slow down, buddy.”
This time Maynard didn’t bring the ball back to Jock.Didn’t even try to make it look as if he would eventually.He looped right and ran next to Tank for a dozen strides before Tank slowed to a majestic trot.Then Maynard looped left and ran a tight circle around the man with the lab.The lab was off on a stick chase, and Maynard dropped the ball at the man’s feet.
“Oh, you jerk.”Jock started walking in that direction as the lab realized a dog was closer to their human.The lab came racing back, muzzle punching Maynard in the ribs and knocking him to the side a couple of feet.Jock was in a run now, ready to land on one or both dogs if the encounter escalated.Then he slowed, because Maynard didn’t retaliate, but didn’t back down either.The man bent over and picked up the ball and the stick.
“Hi.I’m Hank, and this is Zorro.”
Jock met the outstretched hand with his own.“Pleased.I’m Jock, and this troublemaker is Maynard.Tank is over by the bench, completely unimpressed he’s not on the couch at home.”
“Maynard seems active, like Zorro.”
“Yeah, he’s a big ole bundle of energy these days.”He took the ball when it was offered.“Sorry for the interruption.”Jock turned to walk to his previous position, surprised when a chocolate brown nose bumped his hand.He looked back and laughed to find Maynard was standing next to Hank, eying the stick in his hand, while Zorro had followed him, only interested in the ball.
“Let’s try trading toys.”Hank held out the stick, and Jock passed over the ball, and the dogs followed their current object obsession.
“Works for me.”He threw the stick the opposite direction from where Hank threw the ball, and the dogs both tore off to retrieve the items.
Five minutes later, he brought the stick back to Hank.“We’re out of here.Maynard’s recovering from some bad stuff, and I think this is about all the exercise he needs today.”He shook his head when Hank tried to return the ball.“Keep it.Zorro is enjoying it.I’ve got more in the truck.”He held out his hand, and they shook goodbye.
Back in the truck, he looked at Maynard in the mirror.“You didn’t make a friend, but you got me to talk to a stranger.That’s nearly a miracle, boy.Have to tell Silly next time she calls.”He started the engine as a notification pinged on his phone.“And that’s the signal that it’s time to leave for Kent’s.”
Both dogs perked up at the name.Kent was stingy with treats, but that seemed to make the ones they begged off him even better tasting.
“Yeah, yeah, he’s the treat guy.I’m just the chauffeur.”
He parked in the back of the vet’s practice, then entered through the back door.He’d found that bringing Maynard this way was much less stressful on the dog.
Kent was out front, talking to an older lady who was holding a tiny kitten and stroking it.“...need kitten food for probably ten months, Mrs.Richmond.But she’s very healthy.You’ve picked a good cat to adopt.”
“Oh, she’s not a stray from the rescue.This is the product of the cat distribution system.She just showed up on my front porch.I couldn’t turn her away, now, could I?”
