The Business Man & The Smiling Dog
By Jessica Lee Smith

Once upon a time, there was a very serious business man, who couldn’t find his smile. Every day, he rose at 5 am, trudging along in the the rain, the cold, the snow and the heat, on subways, on buses and trains, going to work until 5pm, and then trudging back home again, to his lonely apartment. Even his home was serious, no joy to be found, no flowers, no light, and never a Christmas tree on the holidays.

It was long ago, that he was the boy who smiled so large, and ran through the neighbors yard, smiling and playing with his baby sister. As he grew, he had forgotten the boy he once was, buried deep inside the pressures of being a man, in this big world.

One day, on his way home from work, he decided to walk the last two miles of his journey home. He walked with his briefcase, with his business man shoes, kicking through the slush that filled the sidewalk, and thinking about all of the tasks that he had to tackle the following day at work.

He couldn’t help but notice a light coming from a store window near by. There were people passing him by, laughing, smiling and walking together with loved ones, friends and family. He thought how separate he was from all of that joy. How he didn’t need that in his life. That he was ok, just as he was, in his serious businessman life. Scenes from his childhood and moments of happiness, flashed through his mind, but he just blocked them out. He thought those things are meant for a boy, and not for a man, so he continued walking.

The light coming from the store window drew closer. It felt warm to him , and he was somehow drawn to it. Unlike his usual vigilant walking, he decided to stop and look inside for just a moment. What could this place be, and why was he breaking up his routine by stopping in front of it?

Staring out of the window, was the most beautiful site he had ever seen. A peach colored fuzzy angel on four legs, was looking out of a cage, and to his dismay, this dog was actually smiling. He had never seen a dog that smiled, and thought himself to be dreaming. He looked around to see what this puppy could be smiling at, but there was no one else standing at that window. There was only him, and his briefcase.

He had always loved dogs as a child, but that was a long time ago, before he had lost his smile. He found himself entering the store to get closer to this puppy, and as he walked further, the puppy’s eyes followed him with the same beautiful smile. Could this be the smile he had lost? Could this puppy be smiling for him?

The puppy started jumping up and down, as the business man got closer. He had never seen anyone or anything react to him with such love and happiness. This smile, this heavenly smile, he just couldn’t get enough of it. This smile was just for him, and he felt it with all of his heart.

The salesman approached him, “Can I help you sir?”. Without hesitating , he turned to the salesman and said “I’ll take that dog right there, the one that’s smiling “. The salesman picked up the puppy, and rang up the sale at the register. For a moment, they took the puppy out of the room to clean him up, and get him ready to go home with the man. Even those moments away from that smile, the mans heart already ached. Could he already be missing this puppy, who he had only met just moments ago?

The man searched for the perfect leash and collar, for his new little boy. He chose with great care, as he never wanted that peach puppy to lose his smile. Then from behind him, a tap on his shoulder, and there was the smiling dog, being handed to him by the clerk. “He’s all yours”, the clerk said, and the man found himself holding this angel in his arms.

He left the store, and continued his journey home, but this time, he was not alone. He was a part of something. He had become a father to this precious dog. He was a part of a family of his own. The dog was kissing the man over and over, and reveling at all of the sites around him. He had such joy on his little face. The man was amazed to see how much love this little dog could hold in his heart.

As he entered his apartment, it no longer felt as dark. He turned on the light and hung his coat and hat on the mirrored rack, as he always did. As he looked across into the mirror , he saw the smiling dog in his arms. This was a new life ahead for the businessman, a life filled with love and happiness. He went to turn away from the mirror, but something else caught his eye. For the first time since he was a young boy, the business man was smiling.

He thanked God for that smiling dog for the rest of his life. It was just the angel he needed, to help him find his smile again.

And they lived happily ever after ~

The End