"Your dog ate my shoe."
"What!" I exclaim. My poor Lulu-she must be sick by now. Old Mr Bloom's shoes aren't exactly the type any decent dog should be chewing.
"The next time I see that thing over at my place, I'm going to smack it with a shovel."
"It's her Mr Bloom. Lulu's a girl."
"It is a dog! And if I see this dog anywhere near my property, I am going to kick it."
"Yes, sir. I understand, sir."
Mr Bloom stomps back to his paint-peeling house and slams the door so hard a few nosey neighbors poke their heads out of their windows.
I call, "Lulu, come here girl. Mr Bloom is gone." My golden retriever crawls out from behind Mom's perennials and keeps her tail low as she walks back into the house with me.
Mom calls out from the kitchen, "What's going on outside, Karen?"
"Just another complain from Mr Bloom about Lulu, Mom."
"I already told you to keep her on a leash whenever she is outside."
"Okay, Mom. Sorry," I say, and rush up the steps in two's to my bedroom.
I lock the door behind us before turning to look down at Lulu who is now sitting on the floor with her head lowered but eyes watching me.
"Lulu. You promised me that you would not go next door anymore."
"I'm sorry, Karie. But I can't help myself."
"You're going to be sick if you keep eating his shoe."
"But they smell so tasty."
"That's disgusting. They smell horrible. He doesn't wear socks, and he doesn't wash his feet. And worse of all, he never washes his shoes."
Lulu let out a little whine. Then she says, "But you like cheese, and cheese smells bad."
"Why don't you chew on my shoe. I don't mind."
Lulu stands up and wags her tail. "You promise not to wear socks and not to wash your shoes?"
I plunk down on the bed with a sigh of resignation. "Oh, alright. I can ask some of the guys at the school gym to give up their old shoes too."
"Really, really, really," Lulu barks as she crouches low on the floor, the way she does every time we play catch.
"Yes, really. But you must promise not to go to Mr Bloom's anymore, and I will get you the stinkiest shoe I can find."
With barks of Yes, Yes, Yes, Lulu runs and jumps about the floor in circles. I clap my hands signalling her that I want a hug, and what a hug she gives me.
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