Unexpected Connections in Dog Walking

This morning, I took Lucy for a walk when two men passed by with a small dog of their own. We all slowed down, and I could already sense the familiar chatter of dog owners approaching.

I braced myself for the usual conversation, and then one of the men surprised me by asking:

• "What’s your name? Yes, I'm talking to you, not the dog!"

I was taken aback for a moment.

🤖: "Congratulations! You've just formed a new neural connection!"

• "Nice to meet you, Barbara! I'm ***!"

🤖: "Name not recorded, neural connection lost..."

Then the second man chimed in:

• "I'm Mark."

🤖: "So you remembered handsome Mark, did you?"

The first man continued:

• "You know, these dog owners can be so annoying. With their 'sweetie-pie' this and 'doggie' that, they won't even look you in the eye! Anyway, take care, Barbara, have a great day!"

🧠✍️: Remember to look dog owners in the eye!