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SHADOW YAWNED AND STRETCHED, then hopped off of the bed. This tiny room smelled foreign, and he had had trouble sleeping soundly with strange noises outside. He nose-touched Macy—the big cat responded with a purr—before circling the bed to check on September.
She’d tossed and turned all night. But her disquiet hadn’t alerted him to one of her scary-gone episodes. He knew she worried about many things a good-dog couldn’t know. So he did his job—guarding her and Macy in this tiny smelly room, with bear-toy near for security—so she felt safe. He hoped they’d get in the car again soon and drive away. Shadow liked car rides, even if they didn’t stop and get out to explore as much as he’d like.
He padded to the floor-to-ceiling window, hidden by large swaths of fabric, and nosed the curtain aside to stare outside. Shadow pressed against the glass, relishing the cold against his black fur. Streetlights pooled brightness across the dark pavement where their big car sat. He whined, needing to find a spot of grass and take-a-break.
As if the thought inspired him, Macy yawned, stretched, then leaped off the bed to pace into the adjoining bathroom. Shadow heard the cat scratching around in his litter box. He always worried when Macy posed to take-a-break inside the house. Good-dogs only left scent markings outside, but Shadow had never seen Macy do that even when on his halter and leash.
Shadow padded back to the bed and sat quietly beside September. He rested his chin on the pillow, so that he almost nose-touched her, and stared, willing her to understand his need. When her eyes opened it made him so happy his ears slicked back and he couldn’t contain his wags and whines. He gave her a gentle nose-poke, first on her face then in the armpit, because it made her laugh. He pranced around the room when she sat up in bed.
“I’m up already. Sheesh, it’s still dark out, Shadow.” She yawned, stretched, and swung the covers off. “I know we need to start early, baby-dog. But we don’t have to get up at the crack of dark-thirty.”
He cocked his head at her, loving the sound of September’s chiding voice. She wasn’t really upset. He could tell. Shadow woofed, ran to the door, and sat patiently while September pulled on shoes and shrugged her puffy coat over her pajamas.
They hurried to the small grassy spot beside the parking lot, and September waited until he’d finished. The morning air made white puffs when he panted and Shadow raced back to wait at the door while September bagged his deposit. He didn’t know why she did that. Other dogs would still know he’d been there from the scent he’d left. Shadow had rushed his morning ritual, as there were few interesting sniffs. Other dogs hadn’t visited the grassy spot for many days and fresh smells always told him more. Besides, his breakfast awaited.
Once back inside the tiny room, Shadow sat and impatiently waited for September to serve his food. Usually she hid food-filled toys around their place at Lia’s and put Macy’s treat-toys on the high surfaces. Sometimes the cat knocked one of his treat-toys to the floor and Shadow got an extra munchy.
But today September filled two bowls with food and placed Macy’s on the bedside table. The big cat padded quickly from the bathroom, mewing softly with excitement, to leap onto the bed. He held his mouth open for his special treat—“Pill time, Macy”— and then munched food that smelled stronger, yummier, than dog fare. Shadow licked his lips as September set his food down, but didn’t eat until she gave him the release signal.
September started the water running in the bathroom. Shadow still didn’t understand why people climbed into rain-boxes to get all wet and wash away all the lovely smells that identified them as individuals.
Macy paw-patted his bowl to the edge of the table. One final push and it tipped onto the floor.
Shadow woofed and ran to check out the unexpected bounty. He sniffed out and munched a dozen or so pieces of cat kibble scattered on the carpet. Macy stood on tiptoes, arched his back in a satisfied stretch, then reached down from his elevated perch to grab a good-dog’s tail.
Growling happily, Shadow accepted the invitation. He nose-poked with an open-mouthed grin, braving the paw-pats until Macy danced away.
The cat grabbed bear-toy. With his powerful rear legs he launched himself from the bed to the desk, scattering notepads, pens, and September’s small tote from the surface. A metal jangle of keys spilled from the tote and slalomed beneath the bed
Shadow galloped after, rescuing bear-toy from the cat thief and shaking the toy furiously for allowing itself to be swiped. Macy leaped back to the bed and Shadow raced around first one side and then the other, punctuating his excitement with happy barks. Macy teased him, pouncing around the bed, diving under pillows to spill them to the floor, only to paw-thwack Shadow’s black muzzle. Something clattered off the bedside table, but they continued their play.
“What’s going on in here?”
September’s voice stopped the pair in mid-bark and thwack.
“I can’t leave you two alone for even ten minutes for a shower? Settle, baby-dog. Macy, quit teasing the dog.” She sat on the bed and toweled her hair and Macy pushed his massive frame into her lap. Shadow whined, but knew better than to demand attention until the cat vacated her lap. “Shadow, you should ignore him. You know Macy lives to get you in trouble.”
He grinned and wagged, the placating expression meant to defuse her upset. Shadow wasn’t sure what her words meant, but felt crestfallen at her tone of voice. He hated to disappoint her.
September set Macy aside and quickly gathered the scattered gear, stowing the bowls in the canvas bag. “Where’s my phone?” She pulled a long wire from the wall that often leashed the small phone-box September liked so much.
Shadow tipped his head. Macy yawned and looked away.
“Come on, Shadow. Did you and Macy hide my phone?” She looked around the table, and made a sound of frustration, kneeling to reach behind the furniture. “What have I told you about roughhousing? Not that you pay attention.” She continued to grumble and clambered back to her feet. “I know, you figured I needed exercise this morning before the car ride.”
He woofed and wagged harder at the last two words.
She put on her coat and slung bags over both arms. Shadow could barely contain his excitement. At the door, September stopped him with a single, hated word. “Wait.”
His tail fell and he growled but obeyed when the door swung open. He watched from the window as she carried her burdens to the nearby car then rummaged inside the smaller bag. September dropped the luggage and propped her purse on the hood of the car, searching for something. When she turned away from the car, a scowl drew deep furrows on her forehead and Shadow left the window to meet her at the door. She quickly entered and secured the barrier before Macy could dash out.
“Keys, Shadow. You know, from the show-me game? Keys.”
He woofed, immediately picturing the metal jangle attached to a long ribbon.
“Keys, Shadow. Seek.”
He knew exactly where the keys hid. Macy liked to chase and bat them, but abandoned the keys when he tired of the game and Shadow often had to find them. Now he padded quickly to the foot of the bed, sniffed the narrow opening underneath and lay down, his signal for a find.
“Good-dog, Shadow, good find.” September knelt and peered beneath the bed, then groaned. “I can’t reach them. Maybe a coat hanger?” She got up to scrabble in the tiny closet and returned with something to reach far underneath, but grew even more frustrated.
Macy mewed from his perch on the desk and daintily washed one white paw.
September answered the cat. “I bet anything you knocked them under the bed, Macy. So you can just go get them out.” She scooped him up and returned his nuzzle when he gave her cheek whisker-kisses. “No sucking up to me. Time to redeem yourself. And yes, treats are involved.”
Macy trilled at the same time Shadow pushed forward at the sound of a favorite word. He’d fetch the keys for September, even without treats, but he couldn’t fit underneath the low bed.
“Shadow, good-dog, you wait.” She set Macy on the floor at the foot of the bed and pulled a small object from one coat pocket. “Macy, fetch!” She made a red dot light shine on the floor so it disappeared beneath the bed. Macy chirruped, and wriggled underneath to follow the beam. “That’s a good kitty, what a smart boy, Macy. Fetch.”
The cat returned dragging the fabric ribbon, the keys chiming in his wake. “Good boy, Macy! Good-dog, Shadow.”
Shadow woofed happily and grabbed up bear-toy. He sat up in a beg position with the stuffed animal in his mouth, asking for a treat as well. September traded Shadow a treat for the stuffed bear and Macy a treat for the keys, her brow finally smooth. “Couldn’t go too far without keys.” She chose one key on the fob that looked different than the others. “And couldn’t open that mysterious lockbox without the bank key either.”
