One Day at the Loop

There is a business in our little town called "The Loop".  It is a convenience store with drive through windows, quite handy and very popular.  Cars may line up 6-8 deep at busy times and the wait may be several minutes to get to the window.
Late one day, my husband and I drove up and took our place in the line.  There was a farm pickup in front of us and between us was a black dog, a Lab from the look of him.  He stayed behind the pickup, occasionally looking around the side at the line in front. 
As we watched, we speculated to each other about this dog.  Dogs in the back of trucks are very common, and we wondered if he had jumped out of the truck ahead.  He made no effort to go anywhere, and showed no inclination to get into the truck.  He just kept peeking around the side. 
The line moved forward, the dog followed it, still keeping his place, until the truck in front drove away.  Oh my, did he get left behind?  No, it was just his turn at the window.  We watched in amazement as the patient pooch jumped up and put his front feet on the window ledge.  A hand came out, patted his big black head and handed him a beef stick!  With his "purchase" in his mouth and his tail wagging, he got down from the window and trotted on through the driveway and headed down the alley behind the store.
Slack-jawed and nearly speechless at what we had seen, we took our turn at the window.  It seemed this was a dog from somewhere close to the store.  The clerk told us the dog just showed up one day and was given a treat through the window.  After that, he came around every once in a while.  What we had seen was typical of his behavior.  He was always patient, waiting his turn with more grace than many people exhibit when waiting in a line.
That was several years ago and it has to be one of the most astonishing things I have ever seen.  I have often thought about that dog and wondered if his people appreciated the gift with which they had been blessed.