I grew up with dogs. I though I knew them well. I thought I had a handle on reading them...and then along came Cindy.

Cindy is a pound puppy, a two year old saddle back beagle. Used in a puppy mill, Cindy was rescued and given a new life, a life with John. It took several weeks for Cindy to trust us, and to feel our home was safe. Once she go it, she not only got it, but fell madly in love with everyone who lives here. I just didn't know that John was her person, until yesterday.

John and his Dad where going to spend the weekend at his Dad's cabin in the woods. We talked about taking Cindy, has he had done in the past, but decided it was not a good idea. Cindy is not happy around other dogs, and in the county she would have to befriend a host of other dogs who live there. I said I would keep her with me. After John left, I told Cindy he would be home later, and left her standing on the couch, watching the car drive away. She whined at the door and wagged her tail, but I told her, no, they were gone, she needed to stay inside. A few minutes later Cindy poked me in the leg and whined. I ask her what she needed, and she took off to John's room. There she put her head down on his pillow and began to cry and howl. I sat by her and petted her head and told her John would be home, wait and see. At lunch I opened a can of dog food, but Cindy refused to eat a bite. I sat in the floor with her and handed her bits on my hand, still she refused to eat. I sighed and tried to feed her people food from my plate, a delight to her usually. But no, still Cindy remained in the floor, full body sprawled out and sobbing. As the day wore on, she grew lethargic and non-responsive. I worried she had eaten something she should not. I tired bribing her with a walk, a gator ride, chasing a ball, nothing worked. She remained sad and limp. At times she would walk back to John's room and I would find her on his bed, her nose stuck to his pillow. I grew concerned when she refused a second meal later that night. Then, the miracle happened. John came home. John came in the house with a grin on his face and dirt on his clothing. Cindy ran to him and howled what seemed to sound like "hhhheeeeoooo" and pounced on John with all her tiny might. She danced, pranced, and howled more. John, who does not like dogs, just leaned down and smiled at her. She licked John on the face and he laughed. Cindy ran to me and then back to John as if to say "All is right with my world now."

A few minutes later, John the bottomless pit teenager was handing me potatoes to make into French fries. I did. As John sat at the table eating, Cindy lapped up the dog food and wagged her tail.

I swear, I though she would die she was so sick acting, I told John's Dad. he smiled at Cindy and said "Nope, she just needed John, Cindy like all of us, functions better when John is near." I have to agree. Later that night I tip toed into John's room to make sure he was covered up. Cindy raised her head from his pillow and whined a bit. I pulled a sheet over them both, stopping at shoulder height. "I understand girl, sleep with John, you need him, we all do." I told Cindy as I petted her head.

I slipped into my own room and thought about the day without John. While I honestly did enjoy my down time, I like Cindy, was not complete until he was home.

This morning I watched as John and Cindy took off into the back yard. John jumped into the pool and Cindy climbed on a chair near by to watch him. I smiled to myself as I picked up a cup of tea. All is right with the world today, one disabled boy and his dramatic dog are back to a normal routine. And the boy's Mom is a bit wiser about dogs, and a dogs love for an nonverbal master.