Ocean

I was walking around in Archer County through late spring flowers and early blooms of Prickly Pear cacti when an unknown dog appeared to make my acquaintance. He approached me determinedly and stopped at about five meters from me, then looked up at me, panting, ears perked up. I said, "Hi! How are ya?" His ears lay a bit and he continued toward me. I stretched my hand to him, palm down, he sniffed it, and right then and there, in the midst of a flowery field, the dog and I became friends. He remained with me all morning, walking the hills, avoiding potential snake dens, plunking the tripod down for photographs, and chasing lizards and rabbits. After we returned to the old cabin, I called him over, "Husky! Husky!" He ran toward me and at my feet, he sat down. I reached to his collar, and working my way through his furr, found the tags on his collar: "Ocean" it said, and his address, Rattlesnake Road. "Ocean," I said, "I loved being with you. See you next time."