A Teaching Occasion

This is quite the occasion, a debut of
distinction, an introduction to the social
life that he will inhabit for the duration of
his companionship with the tall man
walking alongside the little fellow, both
engaged in communicating across species
both succeeding admirably, each taking
their own, shared and individual pleasure
in their new linkage to life. What a sight he
is, fluffed silky hair, eyes brimming with
curiosity, his paws outsized to his plump
little body, dressed by nature in shades of
charcoal with a proud white chest blaze and
white booties, trotting along at age three
months as though bred to the leash. Sit,
he is told, and miraculously Tim-Bit stops
without hesitation, and sits. And watches
with fascination as two three-year-old dogs
excitable and shrill, challenge his presence
on their trail in their woodland setting. As
an introduction to canine social niceties
the puppy waits with a degree of uncertainty
until the commotion is muted and with
regained confidence ventures to offer a
tussle with the intruders, sized small like
him, but three years older. Clearly in
Tim-Bit's short lean on life he has learned
more than they have absorbed; a quick study
he is. Intuitively he knows his mission in
life is to guide his companion to contentment
and happiness in his company and in the
process teach him the conceit that he is the
guide to the puppy not that the puppy has
mastered their relationship in his capacity
as chef de mission for the finite duration.