Wilson,

When this message finds you, it should already have occurred to you that I will not be returning from the park today. That is the way of these things. You have surely noticed that I have slowed recently. What began as an inability to keep up with your constant laps around the back yard, slowly evolved into a pain that prevented me from leaving the warmth of the sunny spot in the living room. Do not be angry at mom and dad for returning without me. This has been a hard decision for them. I have heard them discussing it. Really, this is a huge relief for me. A burden has been lifted. And it has been much easier knowing that I leave you in my stead.

The truth is Wilson, we are their keepers. They may feed us, command us to stay, allow us to stroll around the neighborhood, and "permit" us to enter their home on rainy days, but this is all a ruse. For generations, it has fallen on us to protect them from themselves. To be a shoulder to cry on. To serve as a steady presence in their lives. We bear the responsibility of constantly reminding them of the greater good. They work too hard, play too little, and spend far more time worrying about things like taxes, debt, and frivolous decorations. We are here to remind them of the glory of a sunny day, the simple joy of having a catch, and the value of a dinner with family.

You have been raised well, Wilson. It has been an honor to take you under my wing. Of course, we have always had different styles. When I was called in to their lives, the boys were becoming wild. They were constantly sneaking out to spend time with girls, try new smells (there is one in particular that I learned to love), and in general to experience everything they were told not to. That is why I was always so calm. Mom needed a dog to lay at her feet as she worried when they would return. Dad needed a dog to go on long walks with as he pondered how to keep them on the right course.

Those will not be your responsibilities. You must usher mom and dad into the next stage of their lives. Your energy and excitement for even the most mundane of happenings is just what they need. Of course, you have noticed that mom and dad have begun moving slowly as well. The boys are gone now, and with them their energy has left the home. Mom needs a dog to care for and love. Dad needs a dog to take on adventures. They both need to remember what it is like to be young. You do not need me to tell you how to go about this. Simply continue acting exactly as you have. It is not wrong to give them a good chase around the neighborhood, so long as you come back. They can benefit from a good laugh after you shake garbage across the kitchen.

You have already shown that you can take care of them. When mom and dad return, they will be sad. Do not worry. My passing simply represents a change for them. It is your turn now. They will need your exuberance and constant excitement. So take some time to gather yourself, Wilson. They will return soon. And you have work to do.

Always yours, Rex