A ******* dog without a leash
walked up to me on the sidewalk.
"Hello, dog," I said.
It didn't sniff me or lick me,
but instead sat right next to me
and leaned against my leg.

My first thought was that the
spirit of my late father or grandfather
had come to check up on me,
and for a moment, the stress
of the bills and the job were gone.

Then a young guy in a designer track suit
and moussed hair jogged toward us.
The dog got excited, jumped up,
and took off down the sidewalk.
“I hope he didn't bother you,"
the guy said as he ran past.
"Nope. He made my day."