March 26, 2019

White Dog holds herself to the highest standards in the White Dog Army; she would never ask any of the others to follow rules she does not abide. She has impeccable manners, is regal and poised, and certainly has an aristocrat's way when it comes to food and drink. So explain this, Steve challenged me.

It was easy dinner night. Steve had stopped at the grocery for a precooked dark meat turkey roast to which we added asparagus and mashed potatoes. The WDA had just finished THEIR meals, which included turkey cooked over the weekend just for them.

Steve set up trays and brought out plated meals. Most evenings White Dog sits next to him on the sofa and benefits from a nibble or two from his plate. Tonight Steve realized he had forgotten his napkin and went back into the kitchen to retrieve it. It was just two steps inside the door.

He turned to come back in to find te Queen with her dainty paw in the mashed potatoes in order to turn the plate so that the turkey was reachable.

"What are you doing? was met by a haughty look that mocked him. "What do you THINK I am doing?" her eyes snapped. She was without remorse and did not even jump down from the seat. Instead, she took up her normal position and awaited the bite or two that flows her way.

I laughed. "You are going to have a hard sell tonight Little One," I told her. I recognized her response; it was one I often use...the look that says, "Watch me!"

Her performance of wooing Steve without apologizing was masterful; he did not stand a chance. And sure enough the very last bite of his turkey was given to her highness, who accepted it, chewed slowly, and hopped down to return to her bed.