FOR THE LOVE OF DOG

A conversation with Austin

Austin: (scratch scratch)

Me: (muffled) Go away.

A: No chance. (scratch scratch)

Me: (sighing and opening door to my office)

A: (rushing in) What are you doing in here? Huh?

Me: What do I always do in here?

A: I don’t know. Oh, wait. Work?

Me: Right.

A: (dropping heavily onto his fuzzy rug and crossing his paws like he’s hosting Masterpiece Theater) Okay. So work.

Me: Right. I will start to work, and then you will come over and stick your snout under my elbow and mess up my typing.

A: Well.

Me: You don’t let me work in peace, which is why I close my door, so that I can work in peace. But here you come scratching and you won’t stop until I let you in.

A: I think I came for a reason today, though.

Me: And what is that?

A: I think you’re worried about your beloved not liking me and Gabby enough.

Me: (silence)

A: I see I’m right.