Packing Jan's Brain

RUSTY:  What's this about you dogs needing to be sure Jan has packed her brain before you walk her?

MICAH:  I evidently missed something while I was in the kitchen snacking.

BUDDY:  Well, we took Jan for her morning walk yesterday and thought everything was okay.

SAM:  But about a block and a half from home, we stepped off of the sidewalk onto the grass for a young woman to pass.  Three or four yards past us the woman called out, "Do you have three dogs?"

BUDDY:  Jan thought it a strange question since she was so obviously walking three dogs, but turned and said, "Yes."

SAM:  "There's the other one," the woman laughed, as Merci came around the bushes dragging her leash.

MERCI:  We can't check out the bushes on the corner from the sidewalk, so when Jan dropped my leash, I  grabbed the opportunity to sniff around on my own.

BUDDY:  We arrived home.  Jan threw away our poop bags from the morning, carried sticks to the curb for pickup, and walked around the back of the dog pen to the opposite side of the house.

SAM:  We strolled across the yard and the sidewalk.  Merci whined her, "Oh, look, I see someone" whine.  Jan looked up and there was a strange dog coming around the bushes - the route we usually take.

PERCY:  Oh, this is my favorite part of the story.  I wish I could have been there to see this.

MERCI:  But then Jan thought the dog looked familiar, so she turned to count dogs and there were two of us and an empty harness attached to a leash. 

BUDDY:  Jan left my harness loose so I could be comfortable, but when it became too loose, she kept forgetting to tighten the straps. I can't believe it but Jan just walked off and left me behind.

MARCUS:  Oh, that sounds like fun.  I wonder why things like that never happen when I walk her?

CYNDI:  From what I've heard, Jan has to keep a constant eye on you.  And you tend to walk in front of her, not in back. 

MARCUS:  Oh, no wonder Jan continually tells me I'm such a good boy on our walks.

BUDDY:  Continually?  For real?

MARCUS:  Well, maybe not continually.  But at least she hasn't lost me ... yet.