—Wait a minute, does this mean you’ll be leaving soon?

“Yes, I am still gainfully employed even though I won’t have to walk out the door at 5:45.”

—So, more exile in the back yard for the faithful dog?

“Yep.”

—And I’m supposed to be happy about that?

“You can’t always choose what happens, but you can choose your attitude.”

—And now you go all new-agey on me? A decided downside: I get my hopes up for some lap-time ear-scratching and then poof: I’m out the door.

“I suppose that’s one way of looking at it.”

—I don’t want to look at it.

“Then live with it, dog. Your food supply depends on us walking out the front door after you walk out the back.”

—It just doesn’t seem fair.

“And in a few months, the back yard will be covered with snow.”

—Please! Must you torture me with the weather so far in advance?

“Just stating the facts.”

—Well, as you’ve probably heard, facts have a definite anti-canine bias.

“I think the line is, a ‘liberal bias’ . . .”

—Whatever, facts hurt dogs, liberal or conservative.

“Sorry.”

—No, you’re not.

“Quit pouting, I’m still here for a few more minutes.”

—Yeah, typing and ignoring me.

“Hey, next weekend we’re going to pick huckleberries.”

—Without me, I suppose.

“You suppose correctly.”

—More evil piled upon the innocent head of a dog.

“What do you expect me to do about it?”

—Can’t you guess?

“Too easily.”