Writer's Island 06/29/08 "Curiosity"

A Curious Exchange

by Constance

I caught the dog scrutinizing me,

speculative gleam in his brown eye,

an all-together too human expression.

He caught me watching him, watch me

and reverted to that dopey canine grin,

just before he bolted across the kitchen

to chase the cat, and skidded headfirst

across the linoleum into the dishwasher.

Eyes wide, he glanced back to see if I

noticed before he trotted off to nap on

the bed, nose to nose with the grooming

cat.

"She suspects!" the cat whispers to the

dog from behind a raised paw.

"Are you sure?"

The cat swipes paw over one ear. "Not

really... Nah, maybe not. Probably not."

"Good,” says the dog, “good.” He turns

around twice.

"Nice distraction, the dishwasher thing,"

The dog makes a last turn, settles in. "I

try," the dog replies with a yawn. "I do

try."