The following is the tale of Goldenlocks and the three rooms. It all began one cold November night, when Dad was away for the weekend, leaving two Golden Retrievers and Mom home alone. Now everyone knows when Dad is away Mom’s Rules are different, and somethings that may not be allowed under ordinary circumstances are now suddenly up for negotiations. Case in point where we sleep.
Normally we are not allowed to sleep in the master bedroom. However, with Dad away, we like to sleep as a pack. So up we went to settle in for the night. But there was a problem. This room had too many distractions for Asa to go to sleep. There were random socks to be sorted, shoes to be organized, and even a few lost toys found under the bed and in the closet. After about a half hour of hoping Asa would get tired, and go to sleep, Mom decided we needed to move back to our usual room, the former guest room.
There we settled down on our dog beds, as Mom drifted off to sleep on the futon. This plan worked for a little while. But then it dawned on me. If we were all in this room together, what if Dad sneaks home in the night and doesn’t wake us? That would be rude if we don’t greet him. Or worst yet, what if a cat burglar breaks in! Surely we can’t be shut in this room together. In fact, was that a noise I heard?! I jumped to my paws and began barking at the door. Mom, startled from her light slumber, immediately leaped to her feet, flung open the door, and I raced downstairs, with her in pursuit. Asa took a detour back to the master bedroom to grab a sock to bring as a gift for whoever could be breaking in downstairs.
It was as if Mom knew no one would be downstairs to greet us, either friend or foe. So once we all arrived in the kitchen, she shut the gate behind us, preventing us from following her back upstairs. After leaning over the gate to kiss both of our heads goodnight, she headed back upstairs alone. Asa and I stood there in stunned silence in the dark. This was most certainly NOT what either Goldenlocks wanted. I began pawing at the gate and barking, but with no response from upstairs, while Asa happily played with the sock. That’s when…I’m ashamed to admit…I used the one tactic that should only be used in extreme emergencies to get Mom’s attention. I used the vomit alarm! It only took a few gagging noises before Mom came flying downstairs to my rescue! She took me outside so I could patrol the backyard, and Asa joined us to eat a few leaves. Once she realized I didn’t have to vomit, back we all went into the warm house.
This time Mom was looking really tired, as we happily followed her upstairs. Were we going to try the master bedroom again? No! Mom took her pillow and a blanket off the bed and headed back down to the living room. I bounded down the stairs delighted at this new plan, and Asa brought another sock downstairs to keep the first sock company. Mom then curled up in a ball on the couch, with Asa and I on our dog beds next to her. We all drifted off to sleep, happy at this compromise. Well maybe not Mom. That couch is rather uncomfortable to sleep on. However, Asa had a solution!
After tossing and turning trying to get comfortable, Mom got up and when she returned found Asa snuggled up on the couch keeping her blankets warm. This was the first time Asa felt confident to jump up on the couch since his eye surgery in February! Mom’s eyes started leaking from happiness, as she exclaimed “good boy!” She then settled in next to him putting his head on her lap as she sat up drifting back to sleep.
