I went to the Battenkill Bookstore today with Red to do my recommending-in-chief, it is always a nice time, always meeting nice people, helping to sell some books. Connie is busy, she is having a good summer, I am lucky to be a part of it. I brought Red and around noon three children came in, and in the accepting and trusting way of children, especially country children, they each grabbed a book while their parents browsed and came over sat down next to Red, surrounded him. I was concerned at first, because Red was never around children much in his former life and I wasn’t certain how he would handle it.

My border collie Izzy, a wonderful hospice dog was always uneasy around kids, they moved in strange ways, made him uneasy. Red showed no discomfort, he sat quietly as all three reached out and touched him, they surrounded him, petted him, stroked his ears, talked to him while reading their books talking to one another.  He had nowhere to move, was enclosed, not always a comfortable position for dogs. I didn’t say a word, didn’t say “be gentle,” “be careful,” the four of them were in sync. I stayed quiet, reached for the camera. It was all completely natural, they were all so easy with one another, Red was so sweet, so calm and accepting I just stood and watched this tableau of innocence and affection and wondered what happens to human beings as they grow older that they forget how their lives began. Red is a very special dog.