Dedicated to TallPockets. This young man, all of ten, came up to me one day, "Hey, Mister! Can I walk your dog for you"? "I had one just like that" "Well, sorta... He was scruffy too" Were the words that I heard him say. "Sure, son" I said, "Take the lead, He'll follow you" "Speak with him softly, and he'll do What it is that you want him to." "Just walk easy, take your time, He's getting old, like me And life for us holds no races We're just happy to be together, and free". "Now tell me lad, about your dog And why he's not with you now. We have a way to go yet, And it's not sunset for an hour". The lad replied in an earnest way That belied his tender years "My dog Harry, well, he's with my brother, sir And has been, these last two years". "You see sir, we were playing Down the park, three blocks away Pitching ball, tossing wood, running You know sir, all kinds of kids' play". "Well, Tommy Smith pitched the ball Way passed my little brother Jim And Jim, he turned to run after it And Harry, he ran after him". "The ball bounced out onto the road The pair of them in hot pursuit. Between two cars the ball bounced Neither Jim or Harry heard the horn toot". "A screech, a thump, bump, a yelp Then silence fell all around Two little bodies beyond all help Lay lying on the ground". "So you see, sir, Jim's in heaven And Harry, he's up there too Dad buried them together What else was he to do"? Tears welled up behind my eyes As I looked at my new found friend With the compassion I felt for this youngster I knew our friendship would never end. We strolled along, the three of us Into the setting sun The old man, the boy and the dog A new partnership, having begun. Sammy