By Jim Hagarty
2012
My family was away so I popped our 13-pound poodle Toby in the car and we headed for the Erie Drive-In for an ice cream cone. Toby hasn’t gone there often but he sure likes it there as they give him a tiny doggie cone.
This day, there was only one other car there and I parked beside it. I got out, in spite of the heavy protests from the dog who was frantic that I was leaving him behind. But I reassured him, then closed the door and walked over to the ice cream window. While I was standing there, I suddenly heard my car horn go off and thought, “WTH (that’s, What The Heck?, but I actually thought the letters WTH)”. There, in the driver’s seat, was standing Toby, looking intently at me, with his paws on the steering wheel.
I don’t know how he did it. It isn’t as though the horn on that car is super sensitive. He must have stood up, leaned back against the seat and then fell full force on the horn part of the steering wheel. When I finally came back with my cone and his in hand, the couple in the car beside mine were laughing. And they told me a story about their friend who left his car with the keys in the ignition and the dog inside. The dog promptly touched the button to lock the doors. The car’s owner had to go home and get another set.
I think the only one more surprised than me to hear my horn honking was Toby and I will never forget the look on his face as he stood there anxiously behind the wheel, waiting for my return with the goodies.
