Free Dog Named Leaf by Allen Anderson Page A

have to quickly intervene. People who don’t ask permission to pet a strange dog or rush to get up in a dog’s face don’t understand that dogs interpret this movement as aggression. We soon figured out that we’d need to block people from grabbing at our dog to pet him.

    I was fascinated to see Leaf’s behavior evolve at the dog park, especially when Jaws wasn’t there. He became fixated on a big, slow-moving,black-and-tan collie mutt named Norman who’d lie in the sun with his prized possession—an orange ball—resting between his two front paws. According to Norman’s owner, the rescued dog kept his ball with him all the time at home and in the park.
    One day Leaf walked over to where Norman relaxed and without hesitation took the ball and ran like a shoplifter. Norman chased after his ball for twenty minutes. Although the large old dog probably needed exercise, having this upstart steal his ball was sacrilegious. When Norman finally got it back, he no longer relaxed with it in the middle of the park. Instead, he kept it in his mouth.
    A day or two later, Leaf and I returned to the dog park with his favorite, small, red-and-white ball. He never tired of having me throw this ball for him to chase. This one had all the characteristics of a perfect ball. Its smooth surface allowed for good bouncing, and it was small enough for Leaf’s mouth to easily hold.
    Norman suddenly lost interest in his orange ball and chased Leaf’s red-and-white one, forcing Leaf to run the entire time. He had to protect his property by keeping the ball firmly gripped in his mouth. “What goes around comes around,” I told Leaf as he sunk his teeth deeper into his perfect ball.

C HAPTER T EN
The Building of Life
    In my dream I stand outside a gigantic domed structure. At first, it appears to be made of steel, brick, and stone. It looks solid and finite from the outside. Upon a second look, though, I see that the structure does not follow physical rules. It changes, shifts, and grows organically with no visible limits.
    I watch a never-ending line of thousands of people of all ages and races move swiftly into the building. I know some of the people very well, although their names are not coming to my mind. Others, I may have seen sometime in the course of my life. But most of the people in line are strangers.
    I hear a few people saying, “This is the Building of Life.” Although no one tells me what is in this building, I seem to know its contents. I am aware that it contains countless rooms filled with everything imaginable. There are vast collections of art and all the books of the world. It has within itself various kinds of architecture as well as forests, lakes, and oceans. All life experiences are also represented in the massive structure. Everyone who is in line, that is, everyone with a ticket, may move from room to room after entering the building.
    All of these people have tickets. My hands are empty. I do not have a ticket.
    I look around to find that the ticket counters are closed. I panic. This must be a terrible mistake. I see Linda, the love of my life, standingin line with our dear friends. They are moving very quickly into the building. They are leaving me behind. Nobody turns back to acknowledge that I even exist.
    Why don’t I have a ticket? What have I done wrong? I am supposed to be with them. Why have I been abandoned? I try to catch up with Linda, but she is so far ahead. How will I ever be with her again?
    I push my way into the line, hoping that no one will see that I do not have a ticket. Everyone notices and they glare at me with hostility. “ You do not belong here,” some say. Others sneer at me, “ You are not one of us.” I am devastated. I do not know what has happened or why.
    Linda is gone. I am alone and forgotten. It is as if I never existed.
    A PAT ON MY SHOULDER WOKE ME UP . L EAF HAD JUMPED UP ON MY SIDE of the bed. With shaking hands, I reached for his soft body and wrapped my arms around