Still shaken a bit by what had just transpired in the dog park, I stood there looking down at Maggie. As Layla was still giggling and kicking her legs up and down, Maggie made baby talk with her, and then Maggie said to Layla, “Are you ready to go to Mama’s party?”

I swear I heard Layla say something like “yes” but since the only word I’d ever heard her say was “mama” I just dismissed it as my imagination. But then Maggie looked up me and said, “Layla’s ready to go to the party, Jim. Let’s get going or we’re going to be late.”

I said, “Yes, let’s head out. We’ve got about a fifteen-minute walk to Jefferson Square, unless we see any more dogs, that is.”

Maggie laughed and said, “This girl really does loves dogs, that’s for sure!”

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and there won’t be any dog walkers between here and the Square,” I said. “We’ve had enough excitement today already!”

As we pushed the stroller out of the park and down the hill, I couldn’t help but think what else this evening held in store for us.