Yes, yes, yes! 
She’s almost home, 
I know by the angle of the sun under the table
I’ll try to lay here at his feet calmly, chin on my left paw
He pushes buttons on his laptop, rhythmic tap tap tap
Makes my tail want to hit the floor with a little thud, thud
Oooh I know she’s almost home
My ears twitch, perked for just the right sound of the gate rolling back

Squeak, clink
Ooo, thud, thud, thud, yes! She’s home
Vrrrr…car door clap, here she comes, thud, thud, thud

Patiently I let her drop her bags and shake the dust of her day off
As if she just retrieved a stick from some cool water, 
Or perhaps murky water – depends on the day.
I’ll sit sweetly looking on with obedient eyes as she kisses him, exhales.
They exchange their words, taking turns
I watch intently, bodies, tone, inflection, 
posture, expression

Finally her eyes turn to me
Thud thud thud thud
I hear her address me by name, yay! ME!
Her hands tousle the fur between my ears, ahhh…
And then she asks me my favorite rhetorical question, 

“Do you want to go for a walk?”
YES! YES! YES! THUD THUD THUD

Day Nine