Barnaby’s Deep Sea Dream

Barnaby was a Golden Retriever with a very unusual hobby. While most dogs at the local park spent their time chasing squirrels or playing tug-of-war with old ropes, Barnaby spent every morning at the edge of the town’s wooden pier. He would sit perfectly still, staring intently at the bubbling wake of the departing dive boats. He wasn't interested in the seagulls screaming overhead or the scraps of bait dropped by the local fishermen. Barnaby wanted to be under the water.

It started when he was just a puppy. While other dogs splashed playfully in the shallows, Barnaby would shove his face into the water, eyes wide open, trying to see what was happening beneath the surface. He was fascinated by the way the sunlight danced on the sandy bottom and how the tiny silver fish darted between the stalks of emerald-green seaweed. He felt a pull toward the ocean that no amount of tennis balls could satisfy.