She sat there … looking up at me, her head was tilted and her ears were dancing, straight up for the inquisitive look and pointed back for the scared and guilty look. Back and forth.

"Are you hungry girl?" I asked.

I get a tilt of the head in the other direction as a response.

"Whimper … sniff sniff " she said.

I think that means she just wishes she could tell me what she really wants.

"How about we go for a ride?" I said.

Well that triggered something. She jumps up on all fours and wags her behind. This is because being a Boston Terrier she hardly has a tail.

Back in the sitting position she goes. She’s the only one in our family that does what I tell her. I love Cookie.

Now her ears are back up. This means she wants me to tell her more about the idea of taking that ride.

She was in the car as soon as I opened the door. A few minutes later … trees surrounded us. It was beautiful and peaceful. The air was clean and fresh and the sun was reflecting off the top of the nearby pond.

Cookie was in Dog Heaven.

We have the Lynn Woods …. 2,100 acres of nature. Free for everyone to come and enjoy and only minutes away.

We felt so alive. The excitement overcame us … we began to run.

Down the trail …. Jumping over rocks … I ran faster …. Cookie ran faster …. I jumped …. She jumped.

I went left … Cookie went right … I cut back … Cookie turned … I tripped and fell … Cookie jumped over me … I rolled and rolled and rolled.

Now I’m on my back and Cookie is licking my face.

Again …. She’s the only one of our family who would do that.

A few minutes later we were back in the yard.

Cookie is chewing a stick she brought back from the woods.

And I’ve got my eye on the hammock.

"Good dog." I said … and she winked at me.

Joe Mancuso