The One and Only Bob

by Katherine Applegate

The way I understand things, it’s like this. We live on a lonely ball called Earth, and humans have basically been throwing it against the wall for so long that the poor ol’ ball is falling apart.

Dogs are experts at odor. Students of stink. We analyze the air the way humans read poetry, searching for invisible truths.

We smell feelings, too. Sad has a sharp scent, with an undertone of sweetness. Sad smells like being lost in a winter forest as the sun goes down. And happy? Happy is the best, but there’s a touch of wistfulness around the edges. Happy smells like bacon ice cream served up in an expensive leather shoe.

Humans love it when we get silly. I think they’re so weighed down by people problems that sometimes they need to be reminded what happy looks like.

Sometimes nothing is the worst sound in the world. Ruby lets out a little elephant cry, and then I realize maybe that’s the worst sound in the world.