Our community had gathered at Highland Park on Labor Day to grill hotdogs and eat pasta salad. Most everyone was huddled under the shade of the pavilion to avoid the punishing afternoon sun. The adults were drinking coffee and talking, while the teenagers played cards and the little kids drew on the pavement with chalk. I didn’t want to do any of those things, so I went off on my own.

I wandered the wooded walking path, searching for snails or frogs to catch. Unfortunately, the only things I found were ants and daddy long leg spiders, and my muddy jelly shoes were rubbing my ankles raw. It was time to give up.

On my way back, something amazing caught my eye: a cardboard sign reading FREE PUPPIES. Next to the sign were three tiny puppies lolling around on a blanket spread over the grass. Sitting behind them was an older woman, looking up at me from under her sunhat.

“Can I pet them?” I asked. She nodded. There was a black one, a brown one, and a spotted one. I fell for the spotted one, imagining it was one of the dogs from 101 Dalmatians. I wished to myself that I could keep him, but I knew better. My parents had told me many times that we couldn’t get a dog until we finished building our new house.

The woman gestured to the sign. “You can have him, if you want,” she said. “If your parents say it’s okay.”

I looked at his little face longingly. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect dog. “I can’t. My parents already said.”

“Well, that’s too bad,” she replied. She pulled her hat off and began to fan herself with it. “Why don’t you ask them again? Tell them they’re free to a good home.”

I had to try. I ran to the pavilion and dragged my parents away from their conversation. The woman smiled knowingly when she saw us returning.

"I like the Dalmatian," I said, pointing to my favorite.

My dad shook his head. "No, this brown one is better. See how gentle she is when I pick her up?" He rolled her over on her back, demonstrating her calm demeanor. I had to admit she seemed perfectly content.

I couldn’t believe my luck as I followed my parents back to our car, holding the brown puppy tightly in my arms. As she licked my hand with her soft tongue, I realized that sometimes what you get is even better than what you’d hoped for.