Of Mice and Moms

The plan was, I would leave work an hour early today, meet Daddy at a School Board function, and head up the hill around the usual time.

I'm noticing lately that a lot of my stories begin with, "The plan was..."

As I was waiting to pull out onto Tenth Street, I noticed a very large collie trotting down the side of the road. No accompanying human in sight. Crud. God, with His usual sense of humor, timed all the traffic nicely so I had plenty of time for my internal argument. (Really? Rush hour on Tenth Street? Seriously, God?)

"Someone else will pick him up."
"Nobody is stopping."
"I told Daddy I'd meet him. He's probably already there."
"Are you kidding me? He called you from the house ten minutes ago. He probably hasn't reached the highway."
"He'll probably just run away."
"Only one way to find out, isn't there?"
Sigh.

So, I pulled in by the appliance store and got out. I left my door open while I slowly approached. "Hi, sweetie! Hi there, puppy dog! What are you doing out all by yourse- in my car?"

So much for running away. I checked the collar - woohoo! Three tags, one for rabies from a local vet, one with a name and TWO cell phone numbers, and the yellow Home-Again tag that means he's microchipped. This should be easy. I memorized the first cell number and borrowed the phone in the appliance store. Disconnected. Back out to the van to memorize the second number. Very loud bagpipe music. Bagpipes?! Finally, an answer.

"Hello?"
"Are you by chance missing a collie?"
"Am I missing a collie?"
"A collie -a dog - are you missing a large collie-type dog? I found him wandering down the road."
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh this is so not good."
"I can bring him to you if you can tell me where."
"I'm in El Paso."
Okay, maybe not.

I'll spare you the next hour or so of arrangements and rearrangements, much of which consisted of the dog and I sitting on the grass outside the Library, me having the same conversation with every passing patron:

"Beautiful dog!"
"Yep."
"Is it a boy or girl?"
"Not a clue."
"Is it friendly?"
"Sure seems to be. Oof, get off my lap, dog."

Finally, the dog's owner (never did get either name) showed up, and everyone went on their merry way. I did not make it to the Board thing, but I got most of a book read. Hopefully the next reader won't mind the drool spots.