Animal crackers

The kids might have left home, but they keep bringing home strays, as our columnist found out.

- PAT McDERMOTT

His name is Billie. Isn’t he just the sweetest little man you’ve ever seen? He’s a rescue dog,” Reagan explained.

Reagan is our eldest daughter, and this is what someone tells you before asking you to do something. Something you’ve done before and vowed you wouldn’t do again.

“He has bad teeth, a limp and the tip of his tongue sticks out, but I’m getting the teeth fixed,” Reagan said.

“What’s the good news?” asked The MOTH (The Man of the House).

“He’s small and gentle and doesn’t eat much. You won’t even know he’s here. We’ll share him!” she said. “He’ll stay with me sometimes and you can have him the rest of the time. You two are ideal – you’re used to animals.”

She’s right. When the kids were little, our house was like