leash back on. Theo had his trusty doggie bag with him in case of any accidents, so he wasn’t concerned on that front either. Wally waddled down to the water, moving pretty fast for an old dog. He jumped in, feet first, and waded out a bit before shaking the water off his coat.
Theo observed the flux of early morning fishing boats starting out for the day. In the distance he saw the lifeguard setting up. It was that nice boy Logan whose parents had built a summer home up here. They’d talked a few times and he'd liked the boy. Maybe he and Wally would wander over, see how Logan was doing.
"Come on, Wally," he said.
Logan, in red shorts and a t-shirt, was setting up for the day. He waved and reached his arms out toward Wally.
Wally tore right for him, Theo trailing behind. In the last couple days, Wally had been a lot more active. Come to think of it, ever since they'd met that girl Shelby, they both had a little more pep in their step.
"Morning," Theo said. "How's the summer treating you so far?"
Logan smiled. "Just started, but already we've got so many tourists. Haven't been any near drownings yet."
Theo laughed. "Well, I'm sure if anybody's in distress you'll be right out there helping them."
Logan sat on the base of the ramp leading up to the lifeguard station. His tube of sunblock and red rescue buoy were at his side. Wally scampered up to him and started licking his face.
"Hey there, boy," Logan said. "You're perky this morning."
"For a thirteen-year-old dog, he's been livelier the last few days, so I'm feeling a little more hopeful.” Theo thought about Shelby and realized she lived across from the DeLucas’ house. “I don't know if you realize it yet, but you have a new neighbor. I met her yesterday. Her name is Shelby. She's staying with her grandmother, Alice, right across from you."
"Yeah, I noticed," Logan said. "My mom said something about it, too." He petted Wally, scratching behind his ears. "You're lucky to have a dog. My dad won't let us. My little brother and I would love to rescue one."
“You can come by and pet Wally anytime,” Theo said. “Maybe your dad will change his mind?”
A shadow crossed Logan’s face. “There’s very little chance of that.”
Theo thought about how they all had their disappointments and challenges, even a smart, handsome, young boy like this. The sun was already beating down and he was grateful he’d remembered to wear his canvas hat.
“You just never know,” Theo found himself saying, trying to give the young man hope, something he himself did not have a lot of right now. “C’mon, Wally, let’s get going on our walk. You take care, Logan. We’ll be back to visit you again soon.”
"Have a good day!" Logan called after them.
Theo continued down the sandy lake shore. Maybe it was time for him to take some of his own advice. He thought about his friend Trevor's offer to volunteer at the Veterans Center. Trevor had asked him about it a few times now, but Theo hadn't really wanted to get involved with anything, much less make a commitment when most days he could barely get out of bed. Trevor had confided in Theo some of the horrific experiences he had been through when deployed and trying to adjust to being home again. If that young man could still volunteer, Theo could certainly consider it. Trevor had just graduated from college and married his sweetheart when the unthinkable happened on 9/11. He’d signed up and been stationed in Afghanistan. But he’d come back with a severe case of PTSD and to discover his wife had left him.
Theo remembered when Trevor had first moved to the lake. He’d kept to himself, a recluse, but eventually he’d started coming out when he got Buddy, his service dog. One day on a walk they’d finally met at what he now called, “Jean’s bench.” The two men had hit it off right away. Theo’s wife had been pretty sick back then, so Theo had been happy to have someone to confide in and Trevor had seemed happy with the arrangement as well.
They strolled along the path. Theo turned uphill toward the tree-lined ridge. “Let’s stop in and see if Trevor’s home,” he said to the dog.
Wally all but galloped up the steps when they reached Trevor’s rustic wood cabin. He loved Buddy, Trevor’s golden retriever. Theo knocked on the door