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“Don’t worry about it. It looks like you’re having a rough day.”
She looks at her kid, then at me. “He doesn’t take disappointment well.”
He’s got more issues than that from what I can see, but I’m not going to judge. “Well, have a good day,” I chirp and make my way toward my car.
As I pass the man, he pockets his phone and smiles at me. That smile could be considered a weapon because it damn near knocks me over. Trying not to trip over my own feet, I flash a smile at him and say, “How’s it going?”
“Better now,” he replies.
I’m busy congratulating myself on how smooth and cool I acted when I feel a tap on my shoulder. It’s worth mentioning that I have a habit of talking to myself. So I’m sure he overheard my breathless utterance of “You came off totally cool and normal.”
My mouth falls open, and my cheeks heat with embarrassment. He doesn’t call me out on my weirdness. Instead he holds up the bag of cookies. “Do you like chocolate chip? Because I don’t.”
Laughter spills out of me. “I’ve never met chocolate I didn’t like.”
“Good, just promise me you won’t give it to Tantrum Tommy over there. He’ll never learn.”
I take the bag from him, and his phone starts to ring again. He glances at it and sighs, “I have to run.”
“Thank you!” I call after him, watching his ass as he jogs to a big, white truck and hops inside.
I don’t have the heart to look at the mother and son as I toss the bag of cookies in my passenger seat and buckle my seatbelt. I feel bad, but the guy has a point.
And, you know, more cookies for me.
I get back to the groomers just in time, and I’m shocked by the sight of my dog. The little gray creature with a particularly unpleasant scent is now an adorable tan colored pup with a white nose and little white feet. His ears are perked up like a little bat and his eyes shine with what I’d swear is happiness. I guess I’d be glad to get all that extra fur shaved off too.
The groomer kneels down to give him a treat. “He’s a pleasure to work with. He didn’t even fight me cutting his nails. You bring him back anytime.”
“That is so adorable!” I exclaim when he turns, and I see she’s left a bit of extra fur around his backside. It looks like a fluffy little heart. I really need to think of a suitable name. After paying the lady, I hook the leash to his collar and lead him out to the car. The sight of him trying to jump in with his short legs is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. I scoop him up and place him inside. He sits in the passenger seat, staring at me like he’s impatient to get moving.
When I park in front of my apartment, Noble waves from his front step, and I walk my new friend over to meet him.
Jani steps out the front door as I’m approaching. “Oh! He’s so cute!”
Both of them fawn over him, and he just eats it up, licking their hands and wagging his hind end. “He has a puffy butt!” Jani exclaims, scratching his back. “What’s his name?”
“I haven’t come up with one yet.”
“Come here, puffbutt,” Noble calls, laughing as he obeys.
“Noble,” Jani laughs. “Don’t call him that.”
“Why not, he likes it, don’t you puffbutt? Got a puffy old butt, don’t you?” Noble coos, letting the dog lick his face.
“Puffbutt it is,” I chuckle. “Maybe Puffy for short.”
