Pet Negotiations

“We do not need a dog,”
I said. And he said:
“Let’s just look.” And I said:
“That’s the kiss of death,
he’ll be cute and trained
and pathetic. You know
what happened the last
time. So, no.” Then he said:
“They’re going to take him
to the pound.” And I said
“We’re too busy for a dog,
You know I’m right.” And
the next day he snuck in
with a large black lab
named Tyler. “Watch,” he
said, and of course on command
the dog sat, gave me his paw
and looked up with his sad
adorable and adoring eyes.
“You shouldn’t have,” I said.
And he said, “I know. I had to,”
and I said, “I know. I knew all along
you would. I knew I’d fall for him,
the same way I fell for you.
Now, roll over, both of you.”

Kathleen Wade