My dog can talk

My dog can talk. I never noticed it before but he can actually talk. Unfortunately, he only talks in his sleep. 

Sometimes he lies on his side sleeping and you can see his legs twitching as if he is running and no doubt dreaming he is in the park searching for the ball or stick I threw for him to fetch. At other times he is barking softly in his sleep, no doubt saying "throw it again ... do we have to go home so early you wimp?"

A few days ago he was asleep and in between snoring he was mumbling something or other under his breath. It sounded like words as his breath rattled under his cheeks as he breathed in and out. I got down on all fours to listen carefully.

It sounded like "neeen ... neeen ..." no, wait a minute, it sounded more like "nine ... nine ..." 

I listened carefully. He moved a little and the sound was different. I quickly picked up a paper and pen and started scribbling as I lay there beside him. 

(It reminded me of the song "Lay Down Beside Me" by Don Williams - but that's another story).

Any way, as I scribbled "9"; the dog made a noise that sounded like "prrrftteen ... prrrfteen ..."  

The more I listened the more it sounded like "16". Then he let out a soft bark and went "nnnteen ... nnnn teen" which of course was "19".

It suddenly dawned on me even though it was late at night. The dog was telling me the lottery numbers.

This dog is a genius and I did not realise it. I stayed there with him all night and every so often I wrote down another number as he told me in his sleep.

My family thought I'd lost my mind. 

The next morning I rushed out and bought a lottery ticket with the exact numbers the dog had predicted ... and then I waited expectantly for the lottery numbers to be called on TV.

He got them all wrong!