It’s a brisk, windy day for this early in December. The sun blazes down on Saturday afternoon when Arturo decides to take his rescue dog Chuco for a long walk in the park. Slipping out the back door of the diner with the collar up on his wool coat and his black toque pulled down over his ears, he waves at Angel Rocco, busy making a pot of Cuban stew. His temporary uncle seems to be really enjoying his role as a chef.
Outside, Arturo snaps the leash onto Chuco’s collar. The dog eagerly jumps up and turns circles, ready for a walk. “What’s going to happen to you when I return to Heaven?” Arturo says out loud. Petting the dog’s fur, he says, “Never mind that. We’ll figure it out when the time comes. I’ll make sure you have a good home.”
Chuco stares intently into the young man’s eyes before
