Pua waited patiently by the door. Reid's parents had already outfitted her with the guide harness and she had on her little uniform that announced to everyone that she was a service dog. She was really proud to be a service dog. It was so strange to her that some dogs liked to live removed from humans. She personally couldn't imagine it. Reid loved her very much and she loved him too.
Today they would be going out to look at stores. Well, she would be looking at the stores for Reid since he was blind. The main goal was food. Reid so rarely ever got to go out and try new things. Pua could only guess that her parents felt like he needed to get out of the house as much as she did. He wasn't so enthusiastic about that game he made up anymore. The one in the yard where he calls out for her and she barks, then he tries to catch her.
She looked up as his parents guided his hand to the handle on her harness. Reid looked happy and her tail thumped on the floor excitedly in response. It was going to be a great day, just the two of them.
They walked to the area with all the food, her leading and him being pulled along. Pua sniffed the air. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth at the tantalizing scents. She wondered where Reid wanted to go. He had money in his pocket. She had been trained to identify numbers and bills so that he would get the proper change. It had taken awhile but she had worked very hard to learn. It was a point of pride for her.
Reid spoke up as he too sniffed the air. She liked it that he sniffed like her. "How about the bakery. Do you know where that is Pua?" She spoke her agreement, "Yes, the bakery!". Of course she knew which one the bakery was. To let him know they were moving, she touched his leg with her paw before moving.
They entered the bakery, the cold tiles of the floor made Pua prance a little. Eventually she got used to it and pulled Reid toward where the treats were behind the see-through glass. Her tail wagged in excitement. She wondered which one he would get. Her eyes were on that one with the tasty bit of meat tucked inside some kind of pastry. She recalled hearing Reid's parents call it a hot dog.
The man who owned the store filled a box with treats that Reid had ordered. Pua liked him. He was always nice to Reid and to her. The man had small eyes and a big smile. He came around to give her the hot dog she had been looking at. She licked his face, "Thank you!" Before Reid could pay, she had taken the treat in her mouth and chewed it up. As trained, she stood up on her hind legs and put her front paws on the counter to watch them exchanging the money. Satisfied with what she saw, she lead Reid back home.
Once home, Pua sat with Reid on the carpet as he ate some of his treats. She was happy that he was so happy, finally. Content, she lay her head in his lap and let herself doze off.
