Bob (That’s my lady’s man. I know his name now.) Bob stayed home again for two days. He does that a lot. He goes to “work” for some days then he is home with us for two days. It’s called a “weekend.” Things are different when he stays home. We are supposed to sleep late on those two days. We usually get up before the sun but on the two days, we get up late. I get hungry. I also get bored. I go out into the yard to sniff just like always. Early morning sniffing is the best. Then I just can’t help myself, I have to wake up my pack! First I talk very softly, just a little whine. They usually do not hear me, so I speak up. I try to tell them it is time to get up. “The sun has been up for 20 or maybe 30 minutes now!” “It is past time for breakfast,” I whine. “I miss you.” “I have no one to play with,” I tell them. Both of them tell my to be quiet. I am quiet for a long time, maybe 5 minutes. Then I just have to try again. “YOU are hungry,” I whine. “YOU need to play”, I plead. Finally, Bob starts to talk about someone named “Lassie”. He tells Lain (My lady) that this “Lassie must have fallen down the well again.” He asks me, “What’s the matter girl? Can’t you pull Lassie out of the well?” Bob and Lain both start to laugh. I know I have them when they start to laugh. I try to jump up on their bed. It's too high. I know I can't make it but I try every Saturday and Sunday morning. They laugh. I talk to them. They laugh. I get a toy for them. I stand up as tall as I can on my back legs to give it to them. They take it and laugh. After a short time of this Lain will usually get up and feed me.

 

    Sometimes she goes back to bed. If that happens, I let them sleep maybe 20 or even 30 minutes before I remind them that the morning is almost gone and we did not play yet! Usually they say things like, “Its’ only 7:30. Go back to sleep.” I can’t sleep any longer. I need company. We need to play.

 

    Finally, Lain will get up and start Bob’s coffee and her tea. When the coffee is started, I know I have done my first job of the day. I have kept the pack from sleeping the day away. Now it is time for my early-morning nap.

 

I’ve got sniffing to do. Talk to you later.
Emma Basset