calls it She says they need to breathe some woodland air in the middle of the city as they experience nature and relax That may be but when I bump into the students which is every time I’m out here I know they come here to see me Because every time they see me the students smile and shout my name Noodle And though they talk to Andrea they kneel down and scrub their fingers into my hair and tell me all their troubles worries hopes and about how much they miss their dogs back home I listen to them They pet me It’s a win-win And today proved to be no different Noodle I jerked my head up from the base of the pine tree I was sniffing I was this-close to guessing squirrel Stubby the Squirrel to be exact But that would have to wait A student was calling me I looked toward the voice 3
Nate He was one of the best students here at North Branch University I strained at the end of my leash to get to him further up the path Easy Noodle Andrea said I slowed down at least until Nate said my name again This time Nathan said it nice and slowly like I liked it In fact Nathan kept the Noooooooodddddllllle going as he knelt down with lips stuck out in a kiss to greet me I loved that Hey Nate Andrea said A little chilly out here today huh Nah Nate said Feels good Soccer practice was rough Coach Colbert ran us hard Well you have a big match on Saturday Andrea said Folks coming Nah he said Dad’s not doing great Mom is worried about driving too far from his doctors 4
I’m sorry to hear that Andrea said Tell your folks I said hello And how about you drop by the house sometime next week for dinner Ann would love to hear about this season’s team Nate smiled and nodded Then he dug his 5
fingers deeper into my curly hair and said Noodle you make me miss my girl I wish you could meet her Nate had told me all about his dog Toast Toast was an actual poodle Nate said Not like me I’m a Doodle a standard poodle mixed with a Golden Retriever Last time we talked Nate wondered why anyone would mix up an actual poodle He said they were the smartest most athletic best dogs around Why mess with perfection he asked Andrea said something about how she didn’t like it either But she didn’t like anyone breeding dogs for any reason Rescued is the best breed Andrea always said I was sure glad Andrea rescued me actual poodle or not Any Helper Hounds cases coming up Nate asked 6
