Animal Activities #53

Hello, friends welcome to my post in which I have discussed "Animal Activities" as part of my participation in this contest organized by @xkool24

Smart was a brown, short-haired dog with one ear that always folded forward. No matter how hard he shook his head, his ear would remain folded. He belongs to my landlord, and in the compound, there is a yellow gate and a mango tree close to the fence.

Every morning, Smart will follow his owner, either my landlord, his wife, or their children, wherever they're going. One day he followed my landlord to the bus stop. My landlord would pat his smart head, say, Guard the house, and walk away. Smart never followed him further. He said by the gate and waited.

Neighbors in the area noticed something strange in the compound. Even when other dogs chased cars or barked at strangers, Smart stayed. Sunshine or Rain, harmattan dust or noisy afternoons, Smart waited. His tail wagged at every sound of footsteps, and his eyes searched every passing face.

One evening, Baba, the owner, who is my landlord, did not return.

Days passed. The gate remained closed. Food was brought by kind neighbors, but Smart barely touched it. He slept by the gate, nose pressed against the metal, listening. Children tried to play with him, but he only looked towards the road.

A few weeks later, news came that the owner had fallen ill far away and would not return. The house was sold and the movers arrived. They tried to take smart, but he refused to leave the game. On the final day, as the truck pulled away, a familiar voice called his name. "Smart".

Thin and tired, his owner stood there, leaning on a stick. Smart ran, barking and crying, circling his owner with all the joy his heart could hold. His owner had come back for him.

From that day, Smart no longer waited at the gate. He walked beside his owner, wherever the road led, knowing that some waits are not in vain, and some bonds never break.

I am inviting; @dove11, @lhorgic and @bossj23