| Six furry balls huddled in the corner. All black with 'Phil | | | | attendant following closely behind in anticipation of this |
| Specter hair' going every which way, their fat bellies | | | | sphere of unbridled energy slipping out of their hands. |
| extended and moving up and down in a cadence to | | | | I've had enough dog trauma in my lifetime. God forbid |
| be envied by the Rockettes. Except one however. | | | | we give the pup a skull fracture even before we get |
| Breaking rank and file, shattering the tranquility of her | | | | her home. |
| paper-lined, metal-barred home, her | | | | Proper papers filled out, money quickly exchanged, |
| black-eyed-and-pink-tongued mug pressed against the | | | | instructions given on being a responsible pet owner |
| cage, her spasmodic body uncontrollable in | | | | and we were finally out of the door and on our way |
| take-me-home, take-me-home mode. Jumping, | | | | home with our new puppy safely placed in a |
| pleading, break-dancing on yesterday's news. Who | | | | cardboard box lined with an old baby receiving blanket |
| could resist? | | | | in case of traveling trauma accidents. |
| And that's how our life began with our | | | | Of course, none of the children could keep their hands |
| schnauzer-poodle mix, Quiche Lorraine, the star of this | | | | off Little Miss Personality and after having to accept |
| story. She was the one. This little black animated fur | | | | that not everyone could sit next to the box, she was |
| ball had given the song and dance of her life and we | | | | put in the center of the back seat and the losing child |
| bought it hook line and sinker. | | | | had to sit next to the least favored animal in the car. |
| The gullible audience to her Oscar worthy | | | | Me. |
| performance were my children and, the adult who | | | | Leave it to a six week old puppy to have already |
| should have known better, their mother. | | | | mastered the art of the deal. I knew my place. She |
| The children could hardly contain her wiggles in their | | | | was the queen and I knew thereafter that I would be |
| arms as we carried her up to the desk, the ASPCA | | | | at the end of the affection line. |