You Did What?

Beau: So… let me get this straight. You went for a walk with Jane. Without me.

Me: It wasn’t intentional Beau. I just sort of happened.

Beau: Then explain to me how this ‘just sort of happened’ walk happened.

Me: Well, I was dropping off your Christmas gift for Uncle Al and..

Beau: (interrupting me) Wait! What do you mean you were dropping of MY gift for Uncle Al?

Me: Remember. I ordered it in November and it just finally arrived last week? You wanted him to get it didn’t you? Someone had to take it to him.

Beau: Without me.

Me: Ummm… I had other errands to run.

Beau: So let me get this even straighter. You were dropping off MY gift to MY Uncle Al WITHOUT me and decided to go for a walk with Jane also WITHOUT me. Is that it?

Me: Yes. By dawg you got it!

Beau: I don’t got nothun’ ’cause I do not understand why you’d even think that dropping of MY gift to MY Uncle Al WITHOUT me was a good idea.

Me: It seemed like it at the time….?

Beau: (making a loud buzzer sound) MMMMEEEEEEEPPPPPP! Wrong answer.

Me: Ummm… what’s the right answer?

Beau: You honestly don’t know?

Me: Well… I’m afraid of giving the wrong answer ’cause that just make you even more upset.

Beau: Believe me, I couldn’t be more upset than if you told me you went on to visit my Uncle Jim.

Me: Well… that was the original plan…

Beau: Seriously? That was the plan! I am astounded by your lack of consideration of me Louise.

Me: I didn’t go to Uncle Jim’s that day. Remember? I took you the next day so you could give him your gift yourself.

Beau: Right. And you didn’t go the same day because…?

Me: I ran out of time.

Beau: And you ran out of time because…?

Me: You know the answer to that Beau.

Beau: Yes. But I want to hear you say it.

Me: You know. You would have fit right in during the Inquisition.

Beau: Haha! Very funny Louise. But not really. Now. Tell me why you ran out of time.

Me: Well. I was standing at the bottom of the stairs to the front door at Al and Jane’s and I’d left the gift at the top of the stairs and…

Beau: (interrupting me. Again!) Cut to the chase Louise. Why did you run out of time?

Me: Jane and I decided to go for a walk.

Beau: Ahhhh. And. Where did you walk?

Me: (mumbling) shriversmark

Beau: Excuse me. You’re mumbling. Could you speak more clearly please.

Me: Fine. We went to River Park.

Beau: The park I grew up in.

Me: Well. You didn’t really ‘grow up’ there Beau.

Beau: You know what I mean Louise. The park where I spent much of my youth exploring. Running around. Chasing the ball. Playing with other dawgs. Greeting all the people. That park.

Me: (sighing) Yes. Beau.

Beau: I see.

Me: What do you see?

Beau: I see I’m going to have to do some remedial work on your behaviour Louise. This is just simply unacceptable. I’m very disappointed in you.

Me: Oh dear. Is there anything I can do to make it better?

Beau: Well…. I could use a walk.

Me: We just came back from one!

Beau: Yes. But you know Louise… I can never get enough playtime at the park. And… remember that day you delivered MY Christmas gift to My Uncle Al and then WENT FOR A WALK AT RIVER PARK WITHOUT ME!!!

Me: You’re yelling Beau.

Beau: Nope. I’m just making my point. Emphatically. All in Caps. Now about that walk. How about we go to River Park today and you make it up to me?

Me: Can I invite Jane?

Beau: As long as you keep your social distance and throw the ball until I tell you to stop, you can invite the whole dang park.

Me: You know I think you’re taking this a bit over-dramatically?

Beau: I don’t care how you think I’m taking it as long as you take me to River Park. Today.

Me: Fine. I will.

And so, Beau goes for another walk right after his last. Sigh. Oh well. At least I got an extra 5,000 steps in – that has to count for something. Right. Now. If I could just count on Beau to lose the attitude. (Waiting for a miracle. waiting for a miracle… waiting for a miracle….)