When the Lead Dog Goes Away

Tag runs to the car and whines. Surely I've left his buddy Caeli in the car.

I tell him that Caeli is in training and will be gone for a month, but Tag lives in the here and now and doesn't understand.

Ripley, the Foster Dog, stands by the back porch. How could he possibly go exploring without the Queen Bee?

Trick the Cat walks the roof of the chicken house, looking for the black and white dog that he likes to tackle and torment.

Tag gathers his Jolly Balls and Frisbees in the yard and waits for Caeli to appear and engage in a game of tug.

I mope. Although life is quieter and easier without the wild girl, I find myself missng the black and white streak as she dashes across the field, wrestles with the dogs, comes back dirty and in need of a bath.