'Special Delivery' by Linda Michel-Cassidy

My FedEx man has a hawk story.

He works long hours, and his wife gets home from her day much earlier than he does from his. They live way out in the hills, in a place so isolated that they have their own vernacular. Bueno-bye. Aye!

His wife wanted company for the days when he has to bring athletic socks in twelve-packs, hard-to-find used books, and fig tree seedlings to the far reaches of his route—which means to me.

He brought the puppy to his wife on Valentine’s Day. She loved the dog! It's perfect! I am sure they gave it a clever, but not-too-cute name. He is the best husband ever! My FedEx man was pleased that he took this gamble and bought the toy poodle without asking first. Things could have gone either way.

They were playing in the yard, still on Valentine’s Day, loving each other: husband, wife, tiny dog. A hawk appeared, and before anyone, least of all, that puppy, could think about it, the bird swooped down and carried it off like it was a mouse or a piece of ribbon.