Short Stories from the Heartland

For instance, I’m sitting on the couch either watching TV or trying to read, when this pint-sized ball of shag jumps up on the couch and promptly climbs upon my lap. Never mind that I have something on my lap or not, this miniature mop has made himself at home. He has the whole couch to choose from but no, he chose me.

Before you visualize Beethoven, the St. Bernard dog from the movie, I had better explain that Basil (BAH-ZL) is a Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, for short. He weighs all of 3 pounds, wet. He’s cute as can be and fun to be with, when he’s in the mood. Which is all of the time.

While I’m getting dressed, he jumps up and downwith a pair of my socks. I tell him to put them down, so he proceeds to shred them up. I love my pup.

While we are eating dinner he claws the legs of the table in order to get crumbs. If that doesn’t work, he climbs up into our laps and onto the table. My two darling children think this is cute. “Quick, get the camera!” This reminds me of children learning about life at a very young age and getting laughs from people other than her parents. This is a signal to the child that she should keep doing this. The same for a puppy. I am not amused.

The other day I was reading a magazine and eating some popcorn. Basil jumps upon the couch and stands looking at me as if to say, “You’re in my spot.” I pat the couch next to me. He looks me up and down. He wants my spot. I don’t move so he starts chewing on my magazine. (Puppies just love to chew – on everything.) I say no. So now he starts walking back and forth across my lap, magazine and all. Like I said, cute.