Puppy Love

I unclipped the extendable lash Susie's pink rhinestone collar. "Okay, girl!" I shouted. "Go play! Go on, go have fun!" I added when she stood frozen in place, grinning up at me.

My little white shih tsu ran in a circle around the dog park before coming to a stop in front of me. She was panting happily, and her tail was wagging furiously. She barked eagerly.

"Ah, Susie, do I have to do everything?" I asked with mock frustration. I pulled out a colorful tennis ball and threw it with all my strength towards the other end of the park. "Go get it, girl!"

That was her cue. She took off after the ball like a rocket, and a moment later she returned, grasping the ball in her mouth triumphantly

"Good girl, Susie!" I cooed as I pried the ball from her teeth. I was about to throw the ball again when someone interrupted me.

"That's a cute dog."

I dropped the ball, startled. Susie snapped it up and gazed at me with her adoring eyes.

I turned to see a tall guy my age grinning at me. He was standing right outside the dog park, leaning casually on the fence. Crap, I hope he didn't hear me using my baby voice to Susie. That would be awkward. I didn't know anyone was there when I was doing that. "Thanks," I replied awkwardly.

"What's her name?" he asked.

"Her name's Susie," I answered, ruffling her head affectionately. I twisted the ball from her grasp again, and she eagerly waited for me to throw it. I obliged, and off she went, yapping as she tore across the park.

"I love dogs. They're so adorable," the guy commented as we watched Susie trot back to us, holding her prize proudly. "I wish I had one."

"You should totally get one. I fell in love with Susie from day one, and she always makes me smile."

He smiled wistfully. "I wish I could, but my parents won't let me. Something about too much work."

I laughed. "Yeah, dogs are definitely a handful, but I really think they're worth it." I tried to wrench the ball from her jaws, but she held tightly to it, illustrating just how much of a handful dogs could be. I finally got the ball from her.

"You want to explain that to my parents?" he asked, half serious.

"Im not sure that would go over well. You know, since I'm a complete stranger. But you're welcome to play with my dog while you're here, though," I offered.

A smile lit up his face, and I noticed that he was kind of cute. I quickly pushed the thought from my mind. I had just met him, for crying out loud! I'd probably never see him again after today!

While I was distracted by my unwelcome thoughts, he let himself into the dog park. I offered him the tennis ball. It was slobbery, but he didn't even flinch as he accepted the ball.

He chucked it across the park with so much force that I wondered if he was a baseball pitcher or something. "Go, Susie, go! Go get it, girl!" he yelled. His eyes were wide with excitement, as if this was the first time he had ever played with a dog.

"Go Susie!" I joined in, taking the ball from her when she loyally returned to my feet.

And for the next hour, we went on like that. We took turns throwing the ball, and we cheered Susie on as she chased after it.

Finally, Susie lay down at our feet, panting. I gave her some water, then checked my watch. "I'd better be going," I said, a bit regretfully. "I've still got a bunch of homework to finish before school tomorrow." I clipped the leash back onto Susie's collar.