Mom clicked some buttons and the bloopy noise stopped. Suddenly she started talking to herself.
Worse than usual that is.
Then I heard another voice. Looked around our office. Oi! How did she sneak in without me noticing?
Next thing I know that mom is talking in the voice that she uses when she talks to me. You know that voice I’m talking about? The hoochy coochy one that lets me know I’m just the most adorable doglet in the world…
Dashed up to her desk and gave her the nose.
Yes mom – I love you too. Let’s go and play ball.
Not now Fudges, she said. I’m talking to Lolla and your puppy.
Ghah! So that’s who she was talking to in my tone of voice. What cheek. I hung about her chair – rolling my ball around her feet until she gave me the evil eye. I know this look. It talks in capital letters without her uttering a word.
It says… FUDGES! DO NOT PUSH YOUR LUCK.
Slumped down under the table and licked the floor loudly. I know this irritates the pants off her too. She gave me another evil eye and continued to play Peep Po with our puppy. Eventually decided enough was enough.
I also wanted to talk to my puppy.
Jumped up on Mom’s chair, making my favourite whinging noise. Mom moved the screen so that it showed my own furry bod instead of hers.
My puppy – who cannot yet talk – said WOOF. Can you believe that? She spoke to me!
I was so excited I fell off the chair. Mom was gob-smacked too. Issy, aka the puppy, was peering into the camera her side trying to figure out what had happened to her Woof?
Mom moved the screen again so we could have another chat. Lolla said Issy was stroking me on the screen. Well I never. This laptop tik-tukky stuff is not so bad after all.
Guess what Fudges? Mom said.
Yawned – showing all my fangs… do I look like a physic doglet to you? Just tell me already.
Your puppy and Lolla are coming to visit next month.
*As told to Ginny Stone