"Lets go this way," said Maddie as we left the house, pulling me the opposite direction of Wickersham Park. "I wanna go this way."

"Sure thing," I said, taking the steps two at a time, trying to keep up. "What's the big hurry."

"There's something I need to check," Maddie said. She led me down 5th Street to E, then up to 4th Street. I expected her to drag me over to Walnut Park, but she turned, leading me to the post office. "I hope it's here," said Maddie, leading me up the stairs and inside.


"Check the box," said Maddie. "I hope it's something good."

I fumbled with my keys, dropped and retrieved them, then opened the box. I peered inside. "It's empty, Maddie."


"Huh?" asked Maddie. "Empty? Pick me up so I can see."

I hefted her up, so that she could see into the box. "Nothing but sunlight," I said, lowering her back to the floor.


"Oh, foo," said Maddie once we got back outside. "How disappointing. I had a dream there was something good for me in there."

"In the P.O. box? Jennifer and I usually just use that for business stuff."

"But it was a really good dream," insisted Maddie. "You know, the kind that makes you wake up smiling."

"Oh, Maddie," I said, sitting down next to her on the sidewalk and stroking the top of her head. "It's like my mom always says, 'you have to send letters to get letters.'"

Maddie looked up at me, squinting one eye inquisitively. "Does she really say that?"

"Yeah," I replied. "At least she always said that when I was a kid."

"Is it true?"

I shrugged. "Sure. My mom wouldn't steer you wrong."

Maddie thought for a few moments as I scratched her ears. Finally, she spoke up. "So if I send stuff, I might get stuff?"

I nodded.

"Grandma's kinda smart, isn't she?" asked Maddie.

I nodded again. "So, who do you want to write to?"

"I dunno. I'm going to have to think about it," replied Maddie. We walked back home, lingering in Walnut Park awhile on the way. When we got back to the house, the mail had come. In the mailbox was a card from my mom... for Maddie.



Stuff seen around town:


Toofy


Vampire Toofy with bird


Another Toofy.


Toofy in the dark.


"Dog is love." Technically, not found around town so much as in the garage (it's old graffiti on one of Jan and Randy's pews).


"Christians are hella gay." I recognize the handwriting on this one, it's from the same tagger that brought us "I <3 cluster bombs."


Lost dog sign. Have you seen Sparky? Maybe I should start a "Lost Dog Blog," a place for missing pet signs from around the globe. Hmmm....

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

"Yes, hello?"

"Istanbul calling, we have Sparky."

Maybe not.


Folks we met while out and about...


Maddie meets Benny at Wickersham Park.


Benny always likes to take the long way home.


"What about me?" asks Paris. "Can you mention that you ran into me?"


"Let me think about it," replies Maddie.


"Oh, please...?"