Why, Universe, Why?

I’ve been suffering some seasonal allergies lately—stuffy nose, scratchy throat. Two days ago, I started shooting saline up my nose, which has helped, but at 3:30 this morning, when my ibuprofen wore off, my throat was undeniably sore, and I couldn’t get warm, I had to admit to myself I had developed a cold.

I called in sick to work, which I never do, and turned my alarm off. I would spend this day resting, no stress please and thank you.

At about 9:00, I roused myself and fed the dogs. They went outside and started arfing their heads off, so I took a peek, and

look what I found.

Again. Really?

He was running across the street. Collar, but no tags. I headed towards him, at which point he darted under a car and started woofing at me. His distrust was no match for his hunger, though—he was nothing but ribs!—and I distracted him long enough with treats to grab him. He bucked and barked, but I wrestled him back to my yard and fed him. He was sitting in my lap in under five minutes. Redford and Violet were pretty excited. Violet took on a reluctantly mothering demeanor, while

Redford tried to show the little guy who was boss.

Little dude was so hungry. I gave him wet food, dry food, and more treats. Even after that,

he sensed there was one more biscuit on the picnic table.
He was right. The biscuit made him thirsty, so then he drank my tea.

I had called Animal Control the moment I got him into my yard, but an hour went by and nobody showed. At that point, everybody was getting along great.

Redford and Violet even started showing off their WWE moves for him.

And he just got

cuter
and cuter
and cuter. (Put your lipstick away, Little Man!)

And I started to think maybe he’d be mine.

And then Animal Control showed up.

I cried.