The One and Only Bob

by Katherine Applegate

Way I’ve always figured it, end of the day, you gotta be your own best friend. Look out for numero uno.

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.

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.

You need someone, eventually they let you down and you end up feeling like a real doofus.

And yet, sometimes I still wake up at night and think, Gotta find shelter, gotta find safety, gotta find somewhere to belong.

When you’ve been through the worst with someone, you appreciate the best.

You don’t see that with humans, obviously. Constantly seeing differences where none exist. All those things like skin color? Dogs could care less. You think I won’t hang with a dalmatian ’cause he’s spotted? Or a shar-pei ’cause she’s wrinkled?

It was a relief to give up. I had enough to worry about.

Again I nod, and slowly but surely something fine and warm begins to fill my heart.