The Puppy Had a Note Tied to Her Paw-and Someone Promised to Call at Noon

Sophie’s shoulders lowered. Her ears loosened from her head, and she looked away from my hands for the first time.

I tapped again.

Her tail did not wag, but its tip shifted once against the concrete.

“Safe,” I said. “That’s what it means, isn’t it?”

I spread the fleece  blanket beside the note and placed one hand flat on it. Sophie leaned forward to smell continue reading …