As she drove towards the park, Olive's curly hair flapped in the breeze. The air smelled of early fall. The weather was still warm, but the light slanted differently now suggesting the potential for cool early evenings. Olive loved the park. She went nearly every day to go see her friends and frolic in the meadows, dip her toes in the lake, and snack on the lawns.

Olive lived a carefree life. She'd never had to worry about money or work for a living. Her parents were wealthy enough to provide her everything she needed and wanted throughout her life. If she had to admit the truth she was spoiled. Yes, a spoiled life she led jumping from one pleasure to the next. Living in the moment. 

Her friends were no better. A jolly lot, but not terribly productive in life. Frankie should be there this morning, thought Olive. Frankie was her favorites, always willing to play ball or share a tasty snack in the shade of a bush. Olive wondered if Frankie had saved any of that haggis-like meat she had shared with her yesterday. The thought of the delicacy made Olive drool a little. 

She arrived at the park and hopped out of the car. Her friends were playing across the meadow and Olive ran towards them. But as she neared the group she could tell that something was amiss. The usual jovial nature of the crowd had vanished. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife, if Olive had brought one. She hadn't but soon she wished she had some kind of weapon to protect herself.

"Rizzo is here," said Frankie.

But Frankie needn't have said the words. Olive could smell the aggression in the air. Her hair stood on end. 

"No," whispered Olive. It couldn't be.

Olive looked across the meadow and there he was, the bully of the park, Rizzo, flanked on either side by a pitbull and a German shepherd.

"I don't know why anyone hangs out with that bastard," said Frankie. A few other friends of Olive and Frankie stood still beside them, equally distressed and staring in dismay at Rizzo and his friends.

Olive shook her head. "I'm out," she said to her gang. She trotted back to the car.

"Don't you want to play today?" asked Olive's owner Susan, as Olive pawed frantically at the door of the car wanting back in. 

"What do you think is wrong?" asked Susan's husband Timothy. 

Susan glanced around the park. "Oh," she said. "It's that Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rizzo. It's no use, Olive is terrified of him."

Olive, Susan, and Timothy got back in the car and drove home.