My neighbor called my rescue dogs “disgusting” and asked me to get rid of them – I’m 75 years old, and she learned her lesson very quickly.

“They make people smile.”

When we turned the corner onto Marlene Street, laughter filled the air. Pearl’s wheels clicked faster than I’d ever heard. Buddy drove ahead of us like he knew it was meant for him.

Marlene was looking from behind her blinds.

I didn’t look at his house when we drove by. I didn’t need to.

At the end of the block, Mrs. Donnelly turned to face me and said, “You did well, old girl.”

I laughed, with tears in my eyes. “Them too,” referring both to my loyal companions and the rest of the neighborhood.

I didn’t look at his house when we drove by.

Later that evening, as the sun sank low, I sat on my porch, Pearl nestled against my leg and Buddy asleep at my feet. The street was quiet again, but it felt different now. Warmer.

I thought about how I had almost said nothing, letting fear keep me inside. I thought about how easily I had given up on peace instead of standing firm.

The street was quiet again, but it was different now.

Pearl raised her head and looked at me. I scratched her ears and said softly, “We did well, didn’t we?”

His tail struck once, sure and steady.

Buddy sniffed in his sleep.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like the whole neighborhood was calm, and I knew that Marlene wouldn’t bother us anymore.

“We did well, didn’t we?”

If you could give one piece of advice to someone in this story, what would it be? Let’s discuss it in the Facebook comments.