Seven year old Cindy Thompson sat the family dog, Layla, down on the floor. She plopped down next to her. Layla obediently rolled over, letting Cindy stroke her belly.
Cindy was an adorable and somewhat innocent blond-haired girl. The beagle was nearly two years old but had only been with the family for a few months, since Cindy had picked her out at the local animal shelter. "I'm going to go over to Sonya's house for a sleepover," she told the dog. "Sonya can't come here 'cause she's allergic to dogs. I promise tomorrow we'll play together," she told the dog.
Cindy had found it hard to make friends, which is why her parents got her a dog...wanting to help. It had taken this long for Cindy to come out of her shell and make a human friend.
As she sat there, she suddenly felt dizzy. She fell onto her back. For some reason, though, she didn't get up, she just rolled over so she could see Layla. She began to lick Layla's face. =What am I doing?= She thought. =This is what Layla does...=
"Awww...Cindy...." Layla said, almost exactly the way Cindy herself did, when Layla did that.
"Layla...you can talk?" Cindy said, surprised, stopping the licking.
"We've never talked before," Layla agreed. "Can you say something else?"
Cindy tried to think of what to say, this was so amazing....she tried to think of all the fun they'd be able to have now. "This is so cool..." Layla would be able to take her for walks, and play fetch, and....she paused. That wasn't right, was it?
"The coolest..." Layla agreed. "No one is going to believe this....we should record it..." Her English seemed to be getting better. Layla stood up. "I'd better get my smartphone."