The Boss: A Good Sort

These are times that try men's souls.

Of course, every time for them is trying so what's a dog to do but try to herd them into making the most of their time, whatever the time is. In his attempts to domesticate the dog, mankind has attempted to remove certain canine give-and-take from the equation. True enough, Man has given Dog such dubious pleasures as chasing cars and herding United Parcel delivery persons, possibly even keeping the resident cat population in some kind of order, but in mitigation Dogs now have to cope with philosophical constructs that go with the territory of working for one of Them.

The Boss is a good enough sort and I do think he has a perspective on why he got me and what my job description is. He was actually good-natured about the way I got rid of the dragons at about 1:30 this morning, even muttering to me, "Ah, safe again," as I returned bedside. As though he could actually see the danger.

He is well along on his latest project and I find from time to time the outpourings from him of being genuinely connected with himself, particularly when he reads to me from a paragraph or two of which he is pleased or spontaneously gives me the let's-go-for-an-adventure nod, then moves us out to Hale Park or Greenwell Avenue or some other sensible place where there are scents and trees and a sense of land having been put to some appreciated use rather than, ugh, Vons Market or even the Peet's Coffee Shops of which he is so fond.

He has his job, which is producing things of enough resonance to please him into reading some of it to me. I understand this about him in much the same way he understands my need to bark as a means of expression. I have my job, which is watching his back. We often share sandwiches. We often exchange glances. He keeps envelopes of chicken and duck jerky in the glove compartment of our car for me. I let him rub my tummy. He claims that when he first saw me, at that dreadful animal shelter, he knew. I admit I warmed to him, but it wasn't until he came back a few times, explaining my job duties and how it was with him that I took him on.