“Whaaatchaaaguunnaaaadooooo?” Thel asks all relatives, friends, or strangers, when determining which toilet they should use at her place. She’ll ask you that, regardless of social occasion or relationship, out loud, in front of everyone. You better have an answer for her, or you aren’t going anywhere. It’s answer or wait. It’s entirely your choice.

Bristles slowly edges his head around the back door, hoping to not get a mop on his head or something thrown at him, or to get yelled at. If Thel is nowhere in sight, he’ll dash through the house like a Melbourne Cup thoroughbred, leaving his filthy paw prints on the newly cleaned floor. He’ll bolt out the front door, into the front yard and victory, where he’ll celebrate his success. At least until Thel’s next cleaning day.

Bristles and Thel. A story of a woman and her dog, told by her dog Bristles.