Description of an Activity

Cleopatra, my two-year-old Boxer/Pitt stretched across the couch as I finished my reading for one class and picked up the book for another. As I stood, she heaved a heavy sigh and I swear she rolled her eyes. "Hey Cleo... Wanna go OUTSIDE???" The reaction was immediate. She flew off the couch and tap danced next to the front door as I pulled out her collar and leash while getting my coat on.

“Clink.” The leash hit the ground as Cleopatra took off into the empty field, dirt clumps flying into the air behind her. She zigged and zagged, her ears pinned against her head from the wind. I laughed as she jumped into the air and spun a complete 360 before hitting earth and barreling across the ground opening up in front of her.

“Cleo!” She froze, skidding a little because of her speed. I loved how in tune she was to the sound of my voice, despite her ecstasy at being out of the house. Every muscle stood out as she posed, lifting her nose into the air and sniffing for something interesting. Her black tipped ears stood straight up as she looked at me, almost grinning before taking off again. Muscles rippled like an ocean under her short sandy hair as my dog ran laps around the field by our house. She was beautiful in action.

Suddenly, Cleo changed directions mid-stride and came straight at me. I crouched down low, challenging her. Her chestnut eyes glinted as she focused in on her target. Yea, she was going to try to take me out. I jumped to the left a little, her body leaning slightly as she changed course. I jumped to the right a few feet, but it didn’t faze her. A cloud of dust and grass swirled behind her as Cleo’s muscular legs devoured the ground like the athletic beast that she was. I dropped into a football crouch, one hand lightly on the ground as Cleo picked up speed. She was so close now that I could hear her happy panting as the energy that had been cooped inside her all day exploded in her fierce race against nothing. As her front paws left the ground to pin me, I spun to the side as the two of us pirouetted past each other in the air. The instant her paws were back on the ground, she spun toward me, catching me off guard and knocking me flat onto the grass. I laughed as she covered my face in wet kisses, her entire body wagged as her tail whipped the air. We lived for moments like this.