Chapter 171: Austin

March, 2018

He officially hated winter.

He didn't used to. He used to like sledding and walks in snowstorms and ice skating with beautiful red -

Not going down that road.

"C'mon, Chip," he said, tugging at his chocolate lab's leash. She'd started sniffing at a trashcan, no doubt hoping she'd be able to knock it over and eat whatever was inside.

She was this ball of brown fur and pink tongue, always busy, always moving. He'd adopted a lab so she could help him when he went birding, retrieving ducks and geese out in the field.