He was elaborately grateful for his cardboard box bed in the utility room near the back door. He was elaborately grateful to be served his dinner of kibble, after which he took up residence beneath Jack’s high chair, busily cleaning off the bits of Jack’s food that reached the floor. Sweetie was elaborate, period.Jack whooped and chortled, delighted with the dog. When Sweetie barked at a passing grackle, he stared wide-eyed for a moment, and then decided that was delightful too, beating his hands on his high chair in appreciation.After dinner, Jess took them both outside for Sweetie’s evening cavort, holding Jack’s hands so that he could stand and watch. Sweetie obediently took care of his business, and she offered up a silent prayer of thanks to Armando, the night man with too much time on his hands and a gift for toilet training. Maybe she’d try to get him to work with Jack when he hit two.Assuming they were still in Konigsburg when Jack hit two and not running for cover somewhere else.She settled the dog into his towel-lined box in the utility room, between the dryer and the back door.
