Adventures with a Dog named Nephi

Jack Ashburn pans his gaze over his closed left fist, past his white knuckles, glancing slowly down the taught purple nylon leash which terminates at a black, white and brown four-month old puppy that is, by all accounts, a sizable dog already. But, for all the strength he is exerting on the leash, he cannot muster enough force to call the dog by name. "Nephi" was not his first choice. Neither was it his second, …

…their rest stop needs. Jack waves to the lady over his car door with the piece of paper in his hand. She waves back. Nephi is still tugging away at the leash and is now barking at the Dachshund. Jack picks Nephi up, places him in the car, starts the engine, looks back at his three girls who have a distinctive inspired glow in his mind's eye and exclaims: "Nephi, it is!" The girls cheer