I’m reading through a manuscript of short stories, one hundred fifty-two pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman, one-inch margins. I’m reading each story out loud, listening to the beat of the words and the rhythm of the phrases and clauses. This is a good way to find discordant sentences. It’s also a good way to find typos, misused words, and missing words. It gives me more time to agonize over commas. Sometimes I add a few words or sentences because something needs saying, and other times I snip a word or two because I’ve been redundant. Or I snip a sentence or two or three or a whole paragraph because I’ve discovered they are little darlings masquerading as part of my story.

But I’ve read this manuscript out loud so many times that the changes I make now are miniscule. Yet, I’m reading it again, one more time to make sure. Before May 31, I will submit my manuscript to a contest for short story collections. I want it to be as error free as possible. I want each story to be the best that I can make it.

Yesterday evening I sat on the couch with my granddog, Nellie, who listened to me read. And to show her support, my dog Ziva lay on the floor and listened.

The dogs were a willing audience. After all, I’m the giver of treats and walks. And should I have gotten up from the couch, they wanted to be near in case I headed to the treat bowl or grabbed their leashes.

A friend of mine asked, “What did the dogs do when you read to them?”

“They fell asleep,” I said.

“Oh, no,” she laughed, “that’s not good.”

Yep, the dogs keep me humble. But their love is unconditional, especially when reinforced with treats. They are content to be with me, and I love reading to them. They are a kind, loving audience. They don’t care if I struggle with commas, words, rhythms, and little darlings. They don’t care what happens to my manuscript. (Although, if I put it on the floor, Ziva might shred it because she loves to shred paper.)

By the way, after reading one of my stories, I fell asleep too. Nothing like napping with dogs after a good story.