Chapter 3 — A Golden Retreiver Appears on the Screen — Then Sammy Trots Toward the Coffee Table Unnoticed
A large golden retriever steps fully into the frame.
It is Sammy.
He had been fast asleep on the braided rug in the hallway before deciding to explore the living room.
Margaret squints at the tiny screen.
“Wait, when did let the dog inside?” Margaret asks, her tone defensive.
“He’s been inside all afternoon, Margaret,” Hannah answers, keeping her eyes glued to the display.
Sammy gives a lazy, happy stretch.
His long tail begins to wag from side to side in a steady rhythm.
He sniffs the air once.
Then he trots directly toward the heavy wooden coffee table.
Chloe is still occupied by her toy basket across the room, completely oblivious to the dog’s approach.
Sammy walks right up to the polished mahogany legs.
The antique blue and white ceramic vase sits directly above him on the edge of the tabletop.
Sammy lets out a soft, muffled yawn that can barely be heard over the tinny speaker of the phone.
He turns around in a small circle to get comfortable.
His bushy tail sweeps back and forth in wide, enthusiastic arcs.
The tip of his tail clips the bottom rung of a wooden chair.
Then Sammy decides he wants to stand up taller to look out the front window.
He lifts his front paws directly against the edge of the heavy wooden coffee table.