It began like any other play date: Loki and Izzy (2-year-old Huskies) welcomed their friend Nick, an 18-month-old mixed-breed rescue from East Longmeadow to the dog park in Chicopee.
The Huskies are brother and sister. Nick, who is my dog, started chumming around with the siblings during the winter, when the three of them were like snowplows driving through two feet of snow, tackling each other and coming up looking like they were wearing masks made of sparkling crystals.
The pooches survived the winter and were having a play date recently when three boys came to the park. They were there to watch the dogs through a chain-link fence.
I can only guess at the boys’ ages. The leader of the group seemed to be 25, the boy in the middle about 16 and the youngest around 12.
They watched the dogs roughhousing and laughed at their choreographed play: one dog would bow as another leaped over him. They looked like lions locked in battle, rearing up and slamming into each other, then crashing into the dirt and rising again.
The pups were easily distracted by a leaf that was lying still, then stirred by the wind, it blew away with the dogs in hot pursuit.
It started getting warm, so the canines dug little holes, took a break and laid panting hard in the cool dirt.
The boys were mesmerized, smiling at every goofy stunt, laughing at the silliness. They were so engrossed, I invited them in so they could say hello to the friendly pooches.
The 16-year-old was a bit tentative, cautious about coming closer, unsure if he should. But he could tell the dogs would be his friends, he felt drawn to them, so he came through the gate with the others.
The teenager has special needs; the older boy brought him there because he thought the dogs would amuse and make him smile. It turned out to be the right call. This was their first time visiting the park, and it would be a memorable day.
The 16-year-old stood in the field, watching the threesome run laps around him. When the Huskies paused for a break and some water, he went over and patted them on the head, intentionally making funny noises that intrigued and amused them. They tilted their heads and looked curiously at the teen.
Loki and Izzy squinted in ecstasy when the boy rubbed their heads. They were happy and comfortable, smiling like dogs do. You can see it in their twinkling eyes, and the way they open their mouths. The boy was thrilled and hopeful when he asked, “Do you think they love me?” We all said, “Yes.”
In the meantime, the 12-year-old had found an old tennis ball the dogs had been playing with. It was disgusting, ripped, slimy and dirty—perfect for a little boy delighted to pick it up and throw to Nick, who was eager to catch and carry the filthy toy in his mouth.
When the child tossed the ball, Nick took off like a shot, running it down, picking it up and daring the youngster to catch him.
Nick watched over his shoulder, slowing enough to let the boy get closer, but never giving up his lead, or the ball. Nick seemed to smirk when he peeled away from the child, who never stopped trying to chase down the tattered toy and treasured dog.
They were both having a ball.
After about an hour, the 25-year-old had to go to work, so he collected his charges and prepared to leave. But not before the 16-year-old asked if we would call him the next time we went to the park.
It was the most fun any of us ever had there—simply watching boys play with dogs. By frolicking with each other, canines learn how to engage each other, not too rough or docile. But that day, they also played a special role in the lives of those boys.
The three of them came with no expectations, other than to watch from the sidelines as others had fun. But they quickly found themselves part of the pack.
And the 16-year-old who wasn’t sure if he should approach Loki, Izzy and Nick, quickly found them to be his new fur-friends. The dogs made him feel confident and secure; because of them, he went home with a smile and memories of a great day in the dog park.
Staasi Heropoulos has been a journalist in Western Massachusetts for more than 20 years. Reminder Publishing is pleased to offer his website-exclusive stories and observations.
Staasi Heropoulos has been a broadcast and print journalist as well as a corporate communications practitioner, in Western Mass. and internationally for more than 40 years. He loves writing feature articles on local people and places but also welcomes story ideas about corporate and government malfeasance. Staasi can be reached at Staasi.Heropoulos@gmail.com.
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