“Here, boy!”
The black Labrador looked at them briefly before returning to the smell that had caught his attention. He wasn't sure yet if it was rabbit or wild fowl but either way this was more interesting than his master.
“George!!”
This time there was a command in the voice of Aaron's father and the dog obeyed, bounding along the path towards his master, pink, wet tongue lolling a great big happy smile.
“Good boy!”
Aaron's father, like his father before him were great believers in affirmation and through it had the devotion their children and pets alike. He was a strong, quiet upright man with a wicked sense of humour which he was glad to see his son had inherited.
Aaron ran on ahead with George looking for unsuspecting rabbits. They hardly ever found any and those they did easily escaped from the hapless hunters.
He loved these Sunday morning walks with these two and afterwards the homecoming to his wife's cooking. Family meant the world to him and it saddened him that his work on the boats didn't allow him to be home more. Life however, is never perfect, and perhaps it is meant to be that way, he thought, the dark making the light all the more bright.
