The Way It Is

Kyra is as close to perfection as a small
creature can come, with her glossy
black Lab coat, physical conformation
and sweet, trusting personality. She
would not know and no one will inform
her that she is named after another little
dog quite unlike her in breed but loved
and now gone. And nor would she
understand that those she trusts and looks
to look to her to ease the bereavement
the death of her predecessor imposed
on them so agonizingly recently that
tears still spring unbidden. But her new
movements about the house though 
barely resembling those of the large
dog before her, gives comfort to those
who brought her home. And Kyra is
swiftly learning all about life and the
way it is so that by the time she grows
into her awkward paws it will all figure.
Like her introduction on a woodland trail
to two noisy, cocky little dogs challenging
and intimidating her so she crept into the
bracken until she decided to assert herself
because puppies love to play and she
chased the three-year-olds disconcerting
them no end and proving to herself that
boldness incites bullies to run off before
they return and reciprocate playtime.