That Dog Pleasing Feeling

Lucky, my dog, is awake. Impatient, yawning loudly, hoping to stir me. We have not been on our walk yet, and she needs one. She has a doggy door, but she prefers company. She pats me with her paw, gently at first, then a bit harder. My eye opens to her brown-amber eye next to it. Let’s go on a walk, I say. She transforms into super dog before my eyes. Into happiest dog in the world dog. Leaps off the bed in pure joy. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Paws against hardwood in the hallway. I feel guilty stopping in the bathroom. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. She peers in to check on me. I am coming, I say. Knowing her insane need to always be the first one in and out of this Magic door, I back up before she knocks me to my knees. She nearly knocks me down as I pull the front doors open. She bolts past me, runs down the entire front yard, barking and yelping in glee. Terrorizing the birds and squirrels in her wake. No better feeling in the world than dog-pleasing feeling.