“It was fine, Missy. I had coffee in Starkvegas with a friend– that was refreshing! Thank you for asking. And how was your day?”

“Well. I note that you did not take us on our Constitutional in the Pasture. But aside from that, it was okay.”

“Ruff!”

“I am sorry about that, y’all. And I am sorry about my tone with you, Missy, the other day.”

“Perfectly understandable. There’s a lot going on and we appreciate that we are the low mammals on the totem pole around here these days.”

“Ruff???”

“Oh, don’t worry, Rocky. That’s just Missy reminding me in her own way how important y’all are to us.”

“Ruff?”

“By the by, Marica, both of us feel as if something has gone horribly wrong with our friend, A. Leland. He seemed terribly sad at supper this evening. We tried jumping up on him and he barely engaged us. There’s bad news about the old fellow Rudy, isn’t there?”

“ruff?”

“Oh, Missy. You and Rocky are so perceptive. Rudy is now in a place this Side of Heaven where he’s no longer suffering.”

“ruff?”

“You mean he… he… he died?“

“Yes. Rudy died today.”

“rufffffffffffffffffff“

“Oh my. Oh my.” 

“ru.. ru.. ru… f… .“

…

…

“Marica? Should we pray or something?

“ruff?”

“I think we should recite Scripture. “

“I’ve memorized a passage that I think appropriate.”

“ruff.”

“Go ahead.”

The Lord is my Shepherd;

I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’ sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

For thou art with me;

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;

Thou annointest my head with oil;

My cup runneth over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

“Amen.”

“Amen”

“Ruff.”

Rudy