Saturday morning. Mom and Dad and Daughter are preparing to drive to West Virginia for the weekend.
Oxford: Something is going on here. I think everyone is leaving. The Kid is wearing her backpack, Mom's running around, and Dad's jingling his keys.
Traveller: Who's at the door?
Oxford: Don't know. I'll sniff her crotch. Thought so—it's a lady. Dad says her name is Emmy the Pet Sitter.
Traveller: Uh oh. Everyone is going into the garage. Yeah, it's a road trip.
Oxford: I always watch as they drive away. I don't know why.
Traveller: Me too. I always watch.
Oxford: The sitter is scratching behind my ear. Nice.
Traveller: Hey, Emmy, over here. Scratch me! Oh, that's good.
Oxford: Emmy's walking toward the back door. Quick, show her we want to go out—press your nose on the screen.
Traveller: Nose to screen, check. Yes! Wow, it feels great to run. We've been inside for, like, 15 minutes.
Oxford: I'm just glad to lift my leg. Oh, no. It's the Schnauzer next door. Run to the fence!
Traveller: I'm looking through the fence and see one . . . beady . . . little . . . eye. Hey! Back off! The fence is ours!
Oxford: Ours! I lift my leg on the fence! I'll show that little so-and-so who's boss.
Traveller: Gotta go—Emmy's calling. Uh oh, she has a camera.
Oxford: Time to pose, big guy.
Traveller: You want me to sit? This is not fun. Oxford, it's your turn.
Oxford: Not me, buddy. I'm sitting this one out, so to speak.
Traveller: That camera is glued to Emmy's face. She's taking pictures of us for a blog.
Oxford: Blogging? The thought makes me yawn. I'm ready for a nap.
Traveller: Me too.
* * * * * *
That evening
Oxford: This . . . bone is . . . delicious.
Traveller: You left slivers on the rug. Emmy will have to vacuum.
Oxford: She doesn't seem to mind. She ate cheese popcorn and let me lick her fingers.
Traveller: I sneezed on her leg—twice—and she just laughed.
Oxford: Know how Dad showed her how to make us sit and wait before we go outside? She doesn't get mad when I don't sit right away.
Traveller: If you would sit sooner we could go outside sooner.
Oxford: But I want her to know who's boss. So, you like Emmy?
Traveller: Yeah. She rubbed my belly with her foot when she watched TV.
Oxford: I like her, too. But then, we like everyone.
Traveller: We do. We like everyone!
