Unexpectedly, he thought of Muriel, lying with a broken arm and a German guard dog standing over her, its teeth at her throat. But she didn’t give in. ‘Absolutely not, ‘she said
******************************************************** She arrived the next morning in high-heeled black boots and a raincoat. Edward danced around her.Shepointed to his rump. He sat, and she bent to pick up his leash.
‘Is your little boy better? ‘Macon asked her.
She looked at him for a moment. ‘Who told you he was sick?’
‘Someone at the Meow-Bow, when I phoned. Is he okay now?’
‘Oh, yes. It was some little stomach thing. How come you phoned? ‘She asked.
‘I wanted to know why Edward wouldn’t lie down. I tap my foot but he never obeys me, ‘Macon said. ‘Something’s wrong. I’ve been practicing two day now and—‘
‘What do you expect? You think I can do magic or something? Why blame me?’
‘OH, I’m not blaming—‘
‘You most certainly are. You tell me something’s wrong, you call me on the phone--,
‘I just wanted to—‘
‘You think it’s strange I didn’t mention Alexander, don’t you? You think I’m some kind of unnatural mother.’
‘What? No, wait minute—‘
‘You’re not going to give me another though, are you, now
You know I’ve got a kid. Oh on, I won’t bother with ber, you think. And you wonder why I didn’t tell you about him before. Well, isn’t obvious? Don’t you see what happens when I do?’
Muriel’s voice got higher and higher, and Edward began to growl. Macon looked down at him and saw the hair on back of his neck standing up stiffly. A bad sign.
Muriel looked down too and stopped speaking. She tapped her foot twice, but Edward not only failed to lie down; he rose from his sitting position. Then with a howl he jumped straight at Muriel’s face
At once Muriel raised the leash with both hands and lifted Edward completely off the floor. He hung by his collar, making little noises in his throat.
‘He can’t breathe,’ Macon said. ‘Stop it. It’s enough!’
Still she let him hang. Macon shook Muriel’s shoulder and then Muriel lowered Edward to the floor. He landed in a boneless heap. Macon knelt next to him. ‘Oh, God, he’s dead!’
Edward raised his head and licked his lips weakly.
‘See that?’ Muriel said cheerfully. ‘When lick their lips, it’s a sign they’re giving in.’
Macon stood up. He was shaking. ‘Don’t you ever, ever do that again. In fact, don’t even bother coming again.’
There was a surprised silence.
‘Well, fine,’ Muriel said. ‘You want a dog you can’t control? If that’s the way you feel, that’s fine with me.
‘I’ rather have a barking dog than a damaged, scared dog.’
‘You want a dog that bites all your friends and neighbors? A dog that hates the whole world? A mean, nasty, angry dog?’
She stepped neatly around Edward and opened the front door, then turned back to look into Macon’s face.
‘Why, yes, I guess you do,’ she said.
********************************************************
Macon continued practicing with Edward every day, and thought that Edward was slowly getting more obedient. His family was not so hopeful. ‘What about when you start traveling again?’ Rose asked. ‘You’re not leaving him with me.’