David takes a winding path through the White House halls. He stops to talk to this person and that one, and Laddie Boy honestly finds the whole thing utterly boring. The dog can’t even bring himself to pay attention to the conversation.
It’s a bore!
A waste of time!
Taking up precious energy for napping, or playing chase!
He follows David with a drooping tail and flattened ears, only just paying attention to where they’re going. As such, it’s no surprise that the dog almost misses it.
David stops to pull something out of his pocket. A ring of keys, made from tarnished bronze and bright silver. He shows it to one of the other interns here, talking proudly about whatever he plans on unlocking later.
Laddie Boy is paying much more attention to what else comes out of the pocket.
A folded up piece of prim, white paper. It catches on a draft, fluttering along the floor and vanishing under a nearby desk.
“The bill,” gasps Laddie Boy. “That must be what changes things! I can’t believe how careless David is being!”
David shoves the keys back into his pocket. Then, he turns and continues down the hall. Laddie Boy’s heart skips a beat.
This can’t happen!
Frantic, Laddie Boy lunges forward. He scrapes one paw over the front of the desk, long nails clattering over the wood. He whimpers and whines and throws a huge fuss. The man behind the desk, Robert, looks down at him. “Now, what are you doing? Hey, David! Don’t leave without the dog!”
David calls, “Come on, Laddie Boy. Let’s get going.”
“No,” whines Laddie Boy. He scratches at the desk even harder, and then he drops down onto the cold floor. He wedges his nose under the little crack between wood and laminate. “Look! Just look under here! I swear, it’s important. Come on, David. You’re so good about figuring out what I’m trying to say! Just look under here.”
“Laddie Boy,” calls David, again. He claps his hands. “Come on, Laddie Boy. Lets go.”
“Look under here,” insists Laddie Boy, whining louder. “David!”
Robert asks, “what d’you think has gotten into him?”
“I don’t know,” says David, with a low sigh. “Something’s obviously got him all rankled, though.”
“It’s you,” grumbles Laddie Boy. “You’ve gotten me rankled! Just look under here, David. Don’t mess this up! It’s an important job, and you’re about to really mess it up!”
Katelynn E Koontz – Author
