It was not the golden fingers of dawn which gently ripped Kay from the midst of her dreams … it was a low wheezing sound and a warm soft breeze wafting the scent of tuna fish across her cheek. Rolling over on her side she found herself staring directly  into Hushpuppy’s dark, shining eyes ...his small damp snout just inches from her face. The perky young pup had tipped his box on its side. Climbing silently onto the end of Kay’s pillow he lay down with his head on his front paws watching over her like a guardian angel as she slept. Now seeing that Kay had awakened he immediately seized the opportunity to wish her good morning in the only way he knew how.  His small pink tongue darted outward licking her cheek and eyelids. 

Kay gently grasping the precocious pup held him firmly against her side his tiny head resting on her shoulder. Subdued, but undaunted the energetic little puppy continued licking her neck and ear until Kay, unable to resist his wake up call, slowly crawled out of bed with Hushpuppy in tow. She carried the tiny pup into the bathroom with her. Filling the sink with cold water she splashed it on her face several times before setting the puppy on the vanity to allow him to drink the cool clear water. 

“Don’t fall in!” said Kay as she turned away from the sink to dry her face with the large white, terry cloth bath towel  which was neatly draped over the bar behind her.

What followed happened in less than the blink of an eye.  Hushpuppy discovering the brightly colored, plastic tooth paste tube lying loosely capped on the vanity bit into the middle of it shooting a stream of toothpaste onto the sink and mirror. Kay turned around to see the young puppy lapping up the toothpaste with his tiny pink tongue.

“ Oh Hushpuppy!!” she cried out as she held the puppy with one hand while she tried to clean up the tooth paste with a white terry wash cloth which she periodically dipped into the water in the sink. 

This minor crisis resolved Kay turned her attentions to the pint-sized perpetrator.  Looking down into those guileless little eyes however, Kay just could not be angry at the little puppy….   

“It’s a good thing you’re so adorable!” she softly whispered gently stroking the back of his little head which was bowed slightly downward in a feigned display of remorse.

Kay placing the palm of her hand under his tiny snout gently raised his head so that she could peer deeply into his eyes. She leaned slowly forward and kissed the top of his head.

“ Well at least it smells better than that tuna fish you ate last night!” she sighed. 

Grasping the young puppy with one hand under his tummy she set him on the tiled floor.

“Now if you can behave yourself long enough for me to get dressed I’ll take you down to the pet shop and buy you a bag of puppy chow…. And if you’re real good …there’s a box of Milk Bones in it for you.”

Kay sincerely hoped her bribe would pay off …or at least buy her enough time to finish dressing, but she had her doubts. Hushpuppy sat on his haunches with his head tilted at an angle listening attentively as he licked the remaining toothpaste from the tip of his tiny snout.

Kay quickly slipped into a pair of blue jeans. Reaching into her bottom drawer she pulled out a hooded sweatshirt with a long , open-ended, waist high pouch across the front. Kay often wore this sweatshirt when she attended football games because she could slide both hands deep inside the pouch to keep them warm. Today this pouch would serve a different purpose. 

Kay suspiciously eyed the young puppy as she sat down to tie the laces on her sneakers. … “So far …so good !” she thought. 

Still eyeing the young puppy she made her way to her clothes closet and pulled out a bright yellow windbreaker that was just long enough to hide the bottom hem of her sweatshirt. 

She was now ready for action.

Kay slipped on her yellow windbreaker, walked into the bathroom and picked up Hushpuppy. Holding him like a tiny football she carried him out of the house setting him down on the grass in the front yard.

At first Hushpuppy sat at Kay’s feet looking up at her not quite sure what she expected him to do. Suddenly he stood up and walked several feet away before sitting down once more.

Kay waited patiently while Hushpuppy sniffed around and scratched at the grass with his paws before doing his business at the edge of the lawn. Hushpuppy scratched at the grass behind him one last time before abandoning the site and heading back to where Kay sat on the grass waiting for him.

“Good boy !” she said as he approached her. 

Kay had been a little concerned about the prospect of having to paper train him, but obviously he was a very intelligent puppy. Hushpuppy approached Kay slowly stopping to sniff at rocks, dandelions and clover he found along the way. Once he tried snapping at a bee, but after several failed attempts he thought better of trying again. 

Finally Hushpuppy reached the spot where Kay had sat down in the grass to wait for him. She reached down and tenderly stroked his back singing softly to him … 

“How much is that doggie in the window ?…”

Hushpuppy appeared to be wagging his stubby little tail in time to the music.

Kay slowly rose to her feet calling out “Come on Hushpuppy” as she slowly walked towards the street. 

She walked several steps before looking back over her shoulder and was delighted to see the tiny puppy following close behind her. Kay stopped several feet short of the road. Bending down she scooped up the puppy carefully sliding his tail end into her sweatshirt pouch. Hushpuppy squirmed a little at first, but gradually Kay maneuvered him into position inside the pouch.  Hushpuppy lie suspended in his cloth cocoon the tip of his snout slightly protruding from one end...  the tip of his tail from the other. The pouch, with puppy inside, swayed gently from side to side as Kay walked slowly down the road leading to the bus stop.

Kay paused momentarily at the side of the road at the spot where she had rescued Hushpuppy the day before. All that remained of the carnage was a few tufts of beige hair in the weeds and a small lump of blood soaked sand. Looking down into Hushpuppy’s eyes she was certain she saw a small puppy dog tear. 

Walking onward she soon reached the bus stop. 

Kay knew that dogs were not allowed on the bus but she had to get Hushpuppy to the vet for a checkup. Looking down at Hushpuppy one final time she zipped up her windbreaker and stepped onto the bus. The tiny waist high bulge under her yellow windbreaker made her appear to be decidedly pregnant. The bus driver helping Kay onto the bus politely inquired concerning the pending “blessed event”. He was especially nice to Kay because his wife was expecting as well. Kay just smiled and nodded her head.

Hushpuppy suddenly moved his front paws visibly moving Kay’s yellow windbreaker. 

Grasping her left side Kay exclaimed “oooh he just kicked me!” 

The driver smiled. 

Hushpuppy immediately moved his rear paws causing Kay to grasp her right side. 

“An incredibly active baby !“ commented the driver in a slightly suspicious tone. 

“Twins !” replied Kay scurrying to find a seat near the middle of the bus. 

“Oh !” said the bus driver smiling. 

Kay sat down gently rubbing the bulge at her stomach hoping that Hushpuppy would remain quiet long enough for them to reach their destination undetected. Trying to appear casual she gazed intently out the side window as the bus slowly moved forward. Silently she prayed that Hushpuppy would not give himself away.  After several tense moments her prayers were answered …the tiny puppy had fallen into a deep puppy dog sleep. 

Kay , feeling slightly exhausted herself, closed her eyes and relaxed as the bus slowly made its way towards  town.