Page 57 of Threads of Kindness
Sean nodded. “I heard Mom and Frank talking about you needing a safe car.”
“I know,” David said. “I want to leave tomorrow because the storm bringing freezing temperatures to Westbury is alsosupposed to dump heavy snow between here and California. Driving through snow isn’t my favorite thing to do. My mom offered to let me take her car back to school. She’d drive mine once it’s fixed, but I don’t think that’s fair to her.”
The dogs continued romping and playing in the sunshine.
“I’ve taught Daisy how to jump through a hula hoop,” Sean said. “Wanna see?”
“Of course,” David replied. “That’s great. Are you going to work on agility skills with her?”
“I am,” Sean said. “There’s a class starting this spring. As long as I keep my grades up, Daisy and I can enroll.”
He whistled for Daisy and picked up a hula hoop leaning against the side of the house. “Sit,” he commanded.
Daisy’s bottom hit the ground, her gaze never leaving the hoop.
Sean walked ten paces away, held the hoop vertically six inches off the ground, and said, “Okay, girl.”
Daisy bounded forward and cleared the hurdle with inches to spare.
David clapped. “Nice going, you two! I’ll bet she’ll be a natural at agility. I can’t wait to see her when I come home for Easter.”
Dodger spied his doggy friend and came trotting over.
“Does he remember how?” Sean asked.
“Only one way to find out,” David replied.
Sean held the hoop out to David, but David shook his head. “Give it a shot. Let’s see whether or not he can do it.”
Sean repeated the commands with Dodger, who sailed through the hoop with easy grace. He continued the game with each dog, raising the hoop a little higher each time.
Snowball eventually joined them but retreated when offered a chance to jump, electing instead to curl up in the sun beside Sally for a nap.
Loretta opened the kitchen door and stepped outside. “I thought that was you when we heard the dogs barking,” she said to David. “Looks like you two and the dogs are making the most of this beautiful afternoon.”
“We are,” David said. “It’s hard to believe it’ll be below zero in forty-eight hours.”
“Right? I hate to think about it. Spend as much time out here as you can,” she added. “Before you leave, Frank and I need your help with something in the garage—if that’s okay.”
“Of course it is,” David said. “Is Frank still in the garage?”
Loretta nodded. “But it can wait. Enjoy your time outside.”
“No, I’ll help him now,” David said.
Sean looked from David to his mother. “Do you need me, too?”
“Of course we do,” Loretta said, opening an arm to him. “We want both of you there.”
The two boys followed her around the side of the house to the garage. Loretta tapped the key code into the garage door opener and stepped aside.
The door rose slowly. Loretta’s large SUV sat in its usual spot. Next to it was Frank’s compact Mercedes SUV. The metallic paint gleamed in the sunshine streaming through the open door. A wide red ribbon encircled the newly detailed vehicle, and a gigantic red bow sat on top.
Frank stood next to the driver’s side door, key fob in hand, smiling so broadly it looked like it hurt.
David glanced from Frank to Loretta and back again.
Sean clamped a hand over his mouth to suppress a giggle.
