Maxwell Smart found his smile.

*****

Maxwell Smart lost his smile mid-November when his hair was cut short 

to prevent tangling and matting 

while his adult coat was growing in behind the puppy coat. 

It grieved me that he would not smile. 

Until a few days ago, only one fleeting grin, short-lived. 

This afternoon we were out on our afternoon Coyote Hill walkie, 

Maxie and Berr Bear and I, and Max acted like he was in a puppy state once again, 

running, playing with his brother, booping me constantly. 

Then, all of a sudden, 

he jumped into the air and grabbed a branch from a tree 

at the edge of our trail. 

Really. I'm not making up anything here. 

It was afterwards that he could not stop smiling. 

I picked up the branch from the ground 

and carried it the remainder of our walkie, 

bringing it into the house for Maxwell, as if it were his trophy. 

I had contacted our breeder Lynne Grivas three weeks ago 

while on the verge of tears, 

asking he about his loss of smile. 

She assured me "he will smile again...LOL." 

And, here it is:: 

the magic of this day. 

Maxwell Smart found his joy; Maxie found his smile. 

*****