Sandwich Thief

Our dog Rasta and I were out for an early morning walk through the neighborhood. A man was walking toward us, work bag over his shoulder, on his way to catch the light rail train. Clearly a dog lover, he stopped to greet Rasta.

Rasta laid on the charm. Her face lit up as she gazed at him and gently extended her soft orange paw. Though she was sitting politely, her whole body squirmed in excitement. The man beamed and reached down to give her special attention.

Rasta soaked up the love while the man laughed… and then with lightning speed she stuck her snout into his work bag and pulled out a sandwich – the sandwich her new friend depended on to fuel him through his workday.

I gasped, horrified at Rasta’s brazen naughtiness. While I was apologizing profusely, the man gently reached over and retrieved his lunch from her actively-chewing mouth. Half unwrapped, the sandwich was smashed beyond repair and covered in dog saliva.

Before I could finish offering to buy him a replacement lunch, the man shrugged, unfazed. “I’ll probably just eat it anyway,” he said, and walked off with a smile.

Several years have passed, and I’ve often thought about that guy. I sure hope somehow fate intervened and a great lunch found its way to him that day.