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I decided to wait to read what was inside. First, I wanted to see if I could get my big man to eat something. Maybe we’d play ball first.

As soon as I walked into the house, Jake… Tank lifted his head, but as usual, was completely disinterested. From what I could tell, he hadn’t moved since I’d left. I brought the bag with me into the living room, not bothering to remove my jacket. When I sat down on the ottoman, I lowered my hand toward his head, but he didn’t respond.

We sat quietly together, just being in the same space. My mind was still processing why his former owner had dropped him off at the shelter.

I cleared my throat and unzipped the duffle.

No interest.

“Tank,” I said quietly.

He lifted his head immediately, his eyes brighter than normal. In them, I saw hope.

“So that’s your name, huh? Tank. Well, you and I need to have a talk. I know you’re missing your previous owner. You’re scared. I get it. Trust me, buddy. I’ve been where you are, unsure of who you could trust, missing what you lost.” I scratched my head, encouraged he was still paying attention.

I pulled out a single tennis ball and I’d be damned, his tail thumped once. When I rolled the yellow orb between my fingers, he perked up even more. Every muscle was tense.

Including in my body as well.

Tossing the ball, I grinned when it landed between his outstretched legs. He stared at me as if waiting for my permission.

“You can play with it, buddy. Tank.”

He chomped down, his jaws holding the toy in place.

Half laughing, I raked my hand through my hair and took out two more. This time, I lifted them into the air, dropping them so they’d bounce. His reaction was immediate. He jumped up, his tail wagging back and forth.

It was a first.

How long had it been since I’d been delighted about anything in my life? So long I couldn’t remember.

I stood, more confident than before. “How about we play some ball outside. What do you think?”

Woof!

The single bark was like a light going off in the big boy. I scratched behind his ears and he nuzzled his head against my leg.

“Come on. Let’s go.” Grabbing the bag, I jogged toward the back door. My instinct told me he was used to playing with more than one. That’s what we were going to do.

Once outside, he was a different boy, running from one side of the backyard to the other. When I tossed a single ball, he raced toward it, jumping several times until he’d captured the orb in his mouth.

I threw another.

And another.

Within seconds, I was laughing from just watching his acrobatics as he tried to collect every one of them. The momentary cease in fire caused him to drop down, his butt still in the air as he stared at me. I’d be damned if he didn’t have three balls in his mouth. What a feat.

I moved toward him, bending over and giving him a funny look. He whined.

I growled in response.

His tail thumped.

I laughed and managed to grab one ball from his mouth, tossing it immediately.

For a dog, this had to be a reawakening. Maybe he realized I wasn’t going to hurt him. Maybe fate had brought us together.

Maybe I could learn to live again through his world.