On an Old Tailgate at the Edge of the Fields, Copito Found the Best Seat
Out past the garden, where the farm fields stretch flat toward a line of trees, an old pickup makes the perfect resting spot. Abuela Rosa sits on the lowered tailgate in a denim shirt and her flowered apron, one arm wrapped around Copito, who leans into her and gazes up at her face. She is laughing at something, maybe the way he keeps nudging her hand for more pats. A few keys and a cloth hang from her apron pocket, a blue watering can sits in the grass, and the sky above is a soft gray that hints at rain later in the day.
Trucks and dogs go together in American culture, but riding in an open truck bed is risky for any dog, and especially for a small one. Sudden stops, turns, or bumps can send a dog flying, and flying debris can injure eyes. Many states have laws about unsecured pets in truck beds. Inside the cab, a crash-tested harness or a secured travel crate is the safer way to go. A parked tailgate in the yard, on the other hand, is a fine place to hang out, as long as someone lifts the little dog down instead of letting him leap from that height.
For now, nobody is going anywhere. The truck is parked, the fields are quiet, and Copito has exactly where he wants to be: tucked under Abuela's arm with the whole afternoon ahead.
