A Girl, a Boy and a Dog

I found myself with a free day off so I decided to give the pooch a run on the beach. Kharma, a large, black shepherd mix has a high energy level and she enjoys a romp in the ocean chasing her tennis ball.

Luck was on our side today, the beach was vacant except for one guy sitting on a blanket, watching the waves.

I threw the ball for the dog. She splashed into the water and swam out after it. She caught it easily and returned it for another throw.

As the game continued my mind wandered as I watched a sea lion and some gulls hunt for their breakfast.

My brain finally registered that the dog was out of my sight and I heard her barking somewhere off to my left. As I turned I saw Kharma in full run headed towards the man sitting nearby.

Kharma slid to a stop in front of the man nearly covering him with sand. She politely dropped the ball in his lap and sat patiently waiting for him to throw the ball.

I ran up to where they were sitting I grabbed the dog’s collar and looked into the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen.

“So sorry.” I stammered and then I muttered some brilliant line that sounded to me like “Isn’t the seaweed lovely this time of year?” I knew that couldn’t be right, I could have not said that.

“Hi” he said “My name is Mike, what’s the dogs name?”

I told him her name and he smiled up at me and said “That suits her, Well Kharma’s mommy would you like to go get a coffee with me?”

I wanted to strangle him with the seaweed I thought so lovely only moments before. Kharma’s mommy?

I refused politely but as I turned to walk away he called out to me “Claire, come on. After what your dog did to me the least you could do is buy me a coffee.”

“How did you know my name? “ I asked as I turned towards him.

Mike was leaning over reading the tag hanging on her collar. My name and phone number were on her tag.

That day will always shine in my memory. That day I met someone special and he continues to be special to me even though I suspect he only loves me for my dog.

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Nice story, well written.

Dean Jaussaud
Wednesday, May 06