i've got sand in my shoes

Her Da's words were always loud and important, so when he said that Ophie believed him with everything she had. Surely she had to be the luckiest pup in the world to have a Da like him, one who loved her so fervently and earnestly, as though it came to him as naturally as breathing. Perhaps it did. She kneaded on and on, happy with the rhythm she'd fallen into till she paused and her paw slipped, almost causing her to lose her balance atop her Da's wide neck. She hadn't quite nailed the art of multitasking just yet but she'd get there, eventually. She leaned forward, her paws resting on the back of  Da's skull as she resisted the strong urge to nibble his ears.

"What is that? Little hope?" She asked with a curious tip of her head. She loved it when her Da explained things, it all just made sense, as though his words alone could clear fog.