Jolly Didn't Budge

Tonight's Episode

Animals Category

Dan had a difficult time with his dog the last time they went for a walk. Jolly was all over the place. He was barking uncharacteristically. He was trying to pull Dan away from the usual route they took to the dog park. It seemed as though every established routine was inverted.

“Jolly, let’s go!” Dan sternly addressed him, pulling his leash in the direction they always took. Jolly then saw a neighbor walking across the street and barked, as if he was trying to communicate something. Dan couldn’t figure out what was happening. Jolly was always happy with their walks.

They would go to the park, and whichever toy Dan brought, Jolly would be thrilled. It could be a Frisbee, or a ball, or just an old stick Dan found on the way. When they’d get to the park, Jolly would engage his usual dog behavior of sniffing trees, and choosing a spot. Then Dan would clean up after him, and they’d play.

Often, they’d see their usual friends and the typical events would ensue, human conversation and dog play. It was always a really good time. That time however, Jolly was paradoxically counterintuitive. He literally sat down, about a half-block from the park, on the sidewalk, and refused to move.

“Jolly! Buddy! What’s the deal?” Dan asked urgently. Jolly just looked at him blinking his eyes, moving his head slowly around, and making intermittent eye contact. “Do you want to stay home today? That’s OK, we can go home.” Dan said.

Jolly didn’t budge. Dan couldn’t figure it out.

Dan couldn’t think of anything else he could do, except to sit down with Jolly, right there on the sidewalk. He sat there in front of him and looked at his face and waited to see what would happen. “What’s the deal, Jolly? Why can’t we go to the park?” Jolly just reached out his paw to Dan and they shook hands.

All of a sudden Jolly stood up and shook himself and got happy again, and he started pulling Dan down the block, toward the park. “That was weird, what’s gotten into you?” Dan asked. Jolly was back to himself. Jumping toward the Frisbee in Dan’s hand, trotting eagerly in front, leading Dan.

As they got to the Park, Dan could see a man and a very large pit bull leaving, at the far end of the Park. They waited at the stop sign for a car to pass, and as they crossed the street, the man and his frightening dog were out of sight.

They had their usual good time.

435 Words.

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