The Barking Dog

The barking dog went from window to window. All of them were open. The ten year old Golden Retriever could be heard from the Elk's parking lot four blocks away. 

After two days of nonstop barking I drafted a letter to the dog officer but didn't mail it. On the third day the dog was quiet and then the fourth and fifth days too. Someone in the building must've complained. It seemed to be resolved. 

Now whenever I hear the dog bark I bristle and worry that it will go on all day. The barks usually stop after 5 or 6 barks. I'm starting to trust the situation and now I feel the intervals between barks as pauses of hope.