The walk home from school took longer than usual. Nia’s pace was slow due to her tender paw, which had been aggravated by prolonged exposure to the frozen ground. But the limp in her gait didn’t seem to dampen the dog’s spirits, considering that she wagged her tail on the way to town. Anna had planned to join Emmi to check on the ill dogs that were recovering at the ambulance dog shelter, but Emmi insisted that she go alone.
“It’s on the way to my apartment,” Emmi said. “I’ll take care of them tonight.”
“Are you sure?” Anna asked.
Emmi nodded. “Go home and get warm. You, Max, and Nia have been working outside for most of the day. Besides, you must be excited to tell Norbie about getting a chance to train.”
“I am,” Anna said. “But it’s temporary. Fleck will have Nia and me removed from the course as soon as the other shepherds are well.”
“Perhaps,” Emmi said. “But as much as I enjoy working with you, I’m counting on you and Nia to remain on the training course.”
“I’ll try not to disappoint you,” Anna said.
Emmi grinned. “I still expect to see you at seven a.m. Your new role does not provide a reprieve from chopping feed and picking up dog piles.”
Anna chuckled.
“Max,” Emmi said. “Please take your trainer and guide dog home.”
“Will do.” Max patted Nia’s side.
Emmi turned and walked away.
“Forward,” Max said to Nia. She padded ahead, guiding him around a mound of shoveled snow.
Anna glanced to Max. A dusting of frost covered his cap. “Thank you for sticking up for me. If it wasn’t for your endorsement, Fleck would not have permitted Nia or me to work with you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said. “But I didn’t do it out of pity.”
“Waldemar?”
“Nein, although it’s nice to have a break from working with him. You’re as good or better than the other trainers, and you’re far more pleasant to work with.” He tapped his cane over cobblestone. “You and Nia deserve a chance to train.”
“You sound like myvater.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, assuming you are not referring to Norbie’s singing.”
She smiled, her cheeks feeling numb from the cold air. “Working with Nia, the best dog in all of Deutschland, makes me look good.”
He gave a tug on the harness handle. “Halt.”
Nia stopped, raised her right front paw, and panted.
“Why are we stopping?” Anna asked.
He turned to her. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit. Nia is an incredible guide dog, but you have a gift, Anna.”
She looked at him. A glimmer of light from a gas streetlamp flickered over his stubbled face.
“This afternoon on the obstacle course,” he said, “I kept thinking about all the good you and the school are doing for battle-blinded soldiers. You’re not merely pairing them with a shepherd to give them companionship and independence—you’re restoring their lives and giving them hope.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“I can tell that you want to be trainer; I feel your passion for guide dogs each time you work with me and Nia. And I believe Emmi is right—you must strive to remain a trainer.”
“It’s Fleck’s decision, not mine,” she said.
“You’re right,” he said. “But even if Fleck decides to remove you from your substitute role, you must never give up on your dream.”
