I was trying to find something to post this evening. Searched for photos–nah. Quotes–no. Even picked up an old book or two. Just not feeling it this evening.

This, from July 2015, will do nicely. And old Big Dogs Jawin’ post which were conversations between Missy, Rocky, and I. (And which were the early character building for the gang at Miss Missy’s School.) The book is My Dog Skip, which for some reason is not in my card catalog.

And recall, back in 2015 I still had not discovered “she said” or “he said,” in story telling.

“Marica, you seem a bit pensive this evening. Is everything alright?”

“Ruff?”

“Oh, Missy! Oh Rocky! I love you both so so much!!”

“Ummm…. . umpherhaharr. [cough] We love you, too, Marica.”

“ruff.”

“I’m sorry. That was so uncharacteristically emotional of me. I apologize.”

“No need, Marica, no need. You love us. We love you. Those are emotion-laden statements. No need to apologize. But if I may ask, … “

“RUFF!”

“I’m so sorry, My Dear Friend. If we may ask, what has prompted this little bout of sentimentality?”

“ruff?”

“I read a stupid book today about a boy and his dog.”

“Oh.”

“ruff.”

“And they– the boy and his dog– lived in Mississippi back in the crappy olden days before air conditioning and heat indices.”

“Oh.”

“ruff.”

“And they played baseball and had adventures and they had to go to Jackson when the dog was poisoned and the dog liked chicken livers and there was a Victory Garden and… .”

“Oh.”

“ruff. Ruff? RUFF!!”

“Yes, it’s true Rocky. That’s the book I was reading this afternoon.”

“RUFF!!”

“You mean to tell me, Marica, that you were getting all worked up over a story about a boy and his dog when My Dear Friend and I were trying to get some attention from you? I rolled over on my back on the floor and flailed my legs up into the air two or three times right beside you while you were reading and you ignored me. Well. I never. I mean. I can understand it when you ignore us when you are reading those historyoryograffiti books. But A BOOK ABOUT A BOY AND HIS DOG?”

“Gosh, Missy. I’m sorry I ignored you.”

“I have a good mind to start ignoring you every now and again.”

“r.u.f.f.”

“Oh, c’mon. Let’s be reasonable about this. I said I was sorry. I love you!”