Grandpa Earl Read One Chapter Out Loud. His Audience Never Looked at the Book.
The couch is buried in knit throws and cushions, a basket of odds and ends sits on the side table, and a potted plant catches the light from the window. Earl has nestled into the corner with a book held up in one hand, glasses pushed up onto his forehead as usual, his mouth open mid-sentence. He is reading out loud, slowly, the way people do when they want to savor a good line. Skye is right there in front of him, chin lifted, eyes locked on his face, her merle ears soft and her expression rapt. She does not look at the book even once. She only has eyes for the storyteller.
Dogs are wonderfully tuned in to human voices. They respond to tone and rhythm, and many recognize specific words, especially their name and words connected to good things like walk or treat. Border Collies are known for being exceptionally attentive to people, which is part of what makes them such skilled working partners. Spending calm, focused time together, like reading aloud, can be soothing for both dog and person. For older adults who live alone, talking or reading to a pet can make the house feel less quiet, and it is a pleasant way to keep the voice and mind active throughout the day.
Whether the book is a fishing tale, a western, or a stack of old poems, Skye has made it clear that she is the most devoted audience Earl could ask for. She would probably sit through the sequel, too.
