One Wish
Dear Frankie,
If I could make one wish, it would be to talk.
I wish I could have told that kid who kicked me precisely what I thought and reported him to the police. I also wanted to comfort my mom with caring words when she lost her good friend.
But I couldn’t; all I could do was growl at the kid and sit close to my mom. Not being able to share my thoughts sometimes makes me feel like a loser.
Austin
Dear Austin,
I wonder if that’s how humans feel when they are in a foreign country and can’t speak the language. They can learn another language. Whereas you, on the other paw, will never be able to communicate in words, no matter how much you wish or try.
It’s fine to think about what it would be like to talk, but calling yourself a loser for something beyond your control and your ability is not constructive.
I think one of the reasons humans love dogs is that they listen and don’t talk.
My mom says the greatest gift you can give someone is your undivided attention. Take pride in your ability to stay by your mom’s side in her time of need.
Best, Frankie
© 2026 Geneva Woodruff
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