I DELIVER PACKAGES ON THIS ROUTE EVERY DAY—BUT THIS DOG KNEW MY NAME BEFORE I EVER TOLD IT

Same houses. Same porches. Same barking dogs that threw themselves at fences like it was their full-time job.

You stop noticing things after a while.

Everything blends into routine.

Until something doesn’t.

He showed up about six weeks ago.

A blue heeler.

Not behind a fence. Not tied up. Not lost in that frantic, nervous way strays usually are.

He just… stood there.