My Dog Mouse by Eva Lindstrom
"Can I take Mouse for a walk?" I ask, and I'm always allowed. We set off, very slowly. Mouse walks at a snail's pace. He stops at lampposts and fences and sniffs for a long time. Sometimes he looks up at me and then I usually say something. I maybe say "old man" in a very nice voice, not my usual one. ... I wish Mouse was mine.