It’s ironic, I told Maria, but some of the nicest men I know work at the town dump. Bob is one of them, ever since my open heart surgery I can barely touch a garbage can without Bob pulling it out of my hands. Fate is crazy about him, she starts squealing and wriggling miles away from the dump.

He always has a biscuit or a donut for her and she loves to hang around with him a bit. Red has his friends, but Fate has hers. I am fortunate to have two border collies who love people that much. I told Bob he looks like Santa Claus, but more important, he embraces the Christmas spirit all year, he is a very good man.