A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RUFUS
(As Told by Rufus)

This morning I awoke at 5:45 ready to get up and start my day. I first began to wiggle a little to see how Y’mommy would react. All I got was a moan. So I began to stretch and lick myself hoping the movement would wake her up more fully. I knew Y’daddy was already awake and I NEEDED to go OUT!

My stirring around worked; she got up, picked me up and took me into Y’daddy’s study where he was working hard on his preps. At least HE was glad to see me. He said to Y’mommy, “You look grouchy.” She ALWAYS looks grouchy in the mornings. Anyway, he took me outside for my morning’s business and I felt much better.

I grabbed my Greenie and ran back upstairs to eat it on Y’mommy’s bed just so she won’t get her feelings hurt that I wanted to leave her. Then when I finished I returned to the kitchen to eat my breakfast. At first I thought Y’daddy was already gone, so I howled my disapproval, but he appeared and calmed me down with some turkey meat leftover from Christmas.

Again I snatched my after-breakfast bone and raced back to be with Y’mommy. This time she actually awoke enough to try to grab my bone away, but as usual I was too quick. Only after “the morning routine” was I able to settle back down while she finished her nap.

This morning turned out to be a better day than usual because Jesse came to spend the day. After we romped around the rooms and chased each other all over the downstairs, we were both ready for our walk.

I love my walk because I love to sniff along the side of the street to see who has been visiting our street. First, I buried my face in a pile of leaves to smell where Hulk had been; then, I definitely found a spot where Mr. Fox had been last night. Finally, I discovered that that black dog from the other street had passed by and left his markings. None of this suited my fancy to leave my own scent.

Jesse, meanwhile, likes to trot down the street occasionally leaving her own mark, and Y’mommy is caught in the middle of us, me dawdling and Jesse hurrying along, with her arms stretched out each holding a leash. Finally, she reminds me that I have a treat waiting for me if I would only get down to business, so I reluctantly finish and turn around to go back.

Then Jesse and I could get down to the real business of the day, alternately guarding the house and napping.