Spam
I've been very patient.
All those things Nate has been teaching me about how to sit and stay? I'm putting them to good use.
So far, I haven't gotten my reward, but I'm sure it'll happen soon.
Paws crossed.
Rory knows what I want, of course. She always knows. We’re soulmates like that.
I'm just not sure why she won't give me my stick.
It's obviously an important stick. I get that. If it wasn't important, Rory wouldn't be showing all her friends.
But I’m her best friend. I knew her before we came to live with Nate, before she started hanging out with Stacey. And even though this Allie person appears to have moved in with Rory and Nate, I was here first.
And it’s my stick.
It has my teeth marks on it to prove it.
I only whined a little when Rory wrapped it in a napkin and stuck it in her purse before sending me to my crate and taking the stick with her when she left the house.
But the scraping sound of a key in the door tells me she's back. Once again, my patience has paid off.
And I'm ready for my stick.
I press my nose against the front of the crate, watching as she removes her coat and sets her purse on the floor by the entryway.
Her forehead is pinched in that way that means she’s worried about something, which means she needs one of two things to make her feel better: hugs from Nate or cuddles from me.
And since Nate is at work, my mission is clear.
I bark to get her attention.
“I'm coming,” she says and lets out a fast breath, which I've taken to mean that she's excited.
She seems to make that noise a lot when I remind her that I'm here.
As soon as she unlatches the crate, I make my move, attempting to jump into her arms to make her feel better.
“Not now, Spam,” she says.
I cock my head to the side. Not now? It’s always a good time for cuddles.
But what Rory says goes, so I’ll follow her lead.
I look around, pieces falling into place as I home in on the purse. Ah-ha! She doesn’t usually put it on the ground. So it has to be a clue.
And with that, the other piece of the puzzle falls into place, and I know what Rory needs from me.
Obviously, she wants me to get the stick myself, like a game. That’s what will make her happy.
Fortunately, I love games.
In a flash, I scamper across the room to her purse. I plunge my whole face inside.
Almost immediately, I come face-to-face with my treasure.
Right on top, already escaping from the napkin wrapper.
I'm so excited.
I'm so excited.
I grab my stick with my jaws and hold it tight while I carry it away for safekeeping.
“Spam!” Rory says, then repeats my name a little louder.
She’s so proud of me. What a fun game.
I wiggle behind the couch into my special spot, where I keep my most important treasures.
As far as I can tell, Rory and Nate don't know about this spot, and Ollie can't get back here. They’ve seen me squeeze back here, but they don’t know about my collection.
Sometimes there are benefits to being small.
I survey my treasures and push aside a hair clip, a pair of sunglasses, one of Ollie's toys—mine now—and a piece of beef jerky, and I set the stick right in the center of all my prized possessions.
Perfect.
Now Ollie can’t steal it because he’s too big to get back here, and so are Rory and Nate.
So for now, my treasures are safe.