Lady and Man were asleep. Man was snoring. Theodore was awake.

A sound had woken Theodore. He’d heard voices and other sounds, and they had woken him.

Theodore emerged from beneath the covers and jumped to the hardwood floor. The thump and claw clicks did not wake Lady andMan.

Man had failed to shut the bedroom door. Theodore worked the door back with his nose and snuck through a thin opening. He shuffled across the hallway and into the guest bedroom.

Man continued to snore.

Theodore leaped into the seat and then the top of the chair near the window. He peered through the linen curtains.

The scene outside was dark and still. Theodore surveyed the yard, walkway, houses, street, trees, cars. Wait. Lady’s car was different. It was parked off the street, but that was normal. It faced away from the tree, but that was normal. White markings smeared the windshield, windows, sunroof and mirrors. This was not normal. Theodore growled. The white shapes and words were not usually on the car. Theodore continued to growl. Man and Lady still slept.

A head bobbed above the car’s hood. Theodore’s ears perked. Another face appeared near the car’s rear. Theodore’s building growl returned.

“It’s just a dog.” Theodore heard this through the window.

But wait! Girl had left window open even though Lady told her to close window every night. Theodore could jump through the window!

He tried. His face hit a screen.

The two boys watched and then laughed.

“That’s awesome! Did you see that?”

“Stupid mutt.”

Theodore wanted to bark, but he was in a difficult position. His back legs were still on the chair, but his front paws were balanced on the window sill. He struggled with balance then began falling slowly. He slid between the wall and chair.

Theodore then returned to his perch. Man was no longer snoring. Theodore stared at the boys. Streetlights illuminated the black and white stare-down.

“He’s gonna start barking. Let’s go.”

But Theodore did not bark. Theodore spotted another person. The person hid near the tree.

Man was the person. He looked at Theodore then suddenly cut through the yard.

The boys saw Man. They started to run. Man was fast enough to tackle one. He tackled the one who called Theodore a mutt. Man planted his knee in Dick’s back and said something to Dick. Dick was crying.

“What a good boy, Teddy!” Lady was standing behind Theodore. She also was watching. She picked up Theodore and kissed his head. Theodore licked Lady’s chin.

“Such a good boy, you are!”

Theodore was happy.