Harlow lay stretched across the sun-warmed window sill, nose pressed to the cool glass.
When the front door clicked open, the scruffy terrier scrambled up, paws skittering. His tail thumped a happy rhythm against the wall.
Harlow ran to greet his best friend, circling once, twice, three times — then stopped. His friend dropped a soft green ball onto the rug.
Harlow picked it up gently and dropped it at his friend's feet. Tail still going.
Harlow chased the green ball across the living room. It bounced off the couch leg — spin, spin, stop.
Harlow pounced, missed, pounced again — then gently picked it up and brought it back.
Harlow dropped the ball right into his friend's lap. But his friend sat too still, looking tired, not reaching for it.
Harlow nudged the green ball with a wet nose. Then nudged it again. Then let out a soft woof.
Harlow climbed onto the arm of the chair and rested his chin on his friend's shoulder. The friend's hand moved slowly, scratching that perfect spot behind the scruffy ears.
Harlow's tail went lazy and slow, then still — curled around his friend's wrist like a fuzzy bracelet.
