Jared noticed that his father wasn't very patient with him, tugging on the leash and trying to bring him to heel whenever he showed too much curiosity about the plethora of unusual smells and scents.
They were near the bus stop when a van drove past. Jared, sniffing the bench, didn't think much of it until the van's brakes screeched on the asphalt and the vehicle backed up.
A young man leaned from the drive's window. "Mister, is that a pure-bred Old English sheepdog?"
"You must know your dogs." Jared heard his father's response.
The young man laughed. "Yeah. Had one as a kid. Loved that dog."
Dad frowned. "Well, this one may be looking for a new home soon..."
Jared thought of protesting, but what good would it do.
The stranger's smile grew. "He's for sale, then?"
"Son, he's free to a good home," Dad said.
"Is that so?" The man opened his door and stepped outside the van. "Just so happens that is in my price range."
Dad looked pleased at this no-fuss solution as Jared listen incredulously.
He barked in protest when his leash passed from his dad to the stranger. "Thank you," the van's driver said.
"No, thank you," Dad said, glad to be rid of the burden on his time. If his sons complained, he'd just remind them they had not kept their part of the bargain.
Jared's new owner opened a door on the side of the van. For the first time, he saw a couple of other guys inside the vehicle.
"Marty, what are you doing?"
"Yea, why do we want that fuzzy mutt?"
"Do you all have any idea what price a thorough-bred Old English Sheepdog can fetch?"
"But isn't this one a he?"
The driver smiled. "That's all right. It just so happens my cousin has a female."
The guy tugged the leash. "Get in, boy."
Jared found his canine instincts insisting he obey.
The drive shut the door, climbed back behind the wheel, and drove off.