Imaginary conversations with animals

The setting sun hovered just far enough above the horizon to paint roofs across the city a thousand differing shades of pink and gold.

A small yellow dog ran in front of me, stopped and panted, in the familiar manner of a contented animal. It looked back at it's mistress, an elderly woman making her slow way down the hill behind it. Around the dog's neck a brightly hued pink ribbon was tied. The ends of the ribbon flapped gently in the breeze. I looked at the dog. The dog looked back at me. I peered more closely at the ribbon. The dog appeared slightly embarrassed about it. It's face seemed to say "I know, it's awful, isn't it? But it makes her happy, you know?" It looked back at the old woman again, it's affection for her clearly visible on it's face.

"I wasn't being critical," I said to the dog, "just curious, is all. I haven't seen many dogs before with pink ribbons around their neck, you see."

"She thought it went well with the fur, " said the dogs face. "Don't tell her, but if you ask me, she's even more colour blind than I am. Still what's a dog to do, I ask you?"

"It does make you stand out from other dogs," I replied truthfully.

The dog was shrewder than I expected and clearly understood what I meant by this. It fixed me with steely doggy stare.

"Well, at least I'm not having an imaginary conversation with a mute creature," it said somewhat indignantly.

"Ah right, good point," I replied, as the old woman caught up with us, and the dog ran off. I nodded at her and exchanged a pleasantry or two and then she continued to chase her quarry at her own glacial pace.