Here’s the latest Jesse/dog scoop. Jesse left on the motorcycle at 11:30 yesterday and returned just moments later. I thought the dogs would be going crazy, but to my surprise, they shut up after just a few barks. Then he roared on back out about a half-hour later, and again I was pleasantly surprised with just a few barks. Then it was dead quiet all day until he returned at around 5. I wonder if someone could’ve been up there, like maybe the kid. Would you leave an 11-year-old alone that long? Yeah, I suppose you could. There still might be a difference in him leaving on the motorcycle versus the truck, too.

Anyway, when I got up at 5:30 this morning, I expected it to be to a tune of wild barking, but I haven’t heard a thing yet. I can’t believe they’d be quiet if he left this early and in the truck, so my guess is that he’s not working today. Tom will be able to tell for sure when he goes to mail the books later on. Yeah, the two single hardbacks didn’t sell, but the 27-lot of paperbacks did, so that’s good. Even though we only make a few bucks, it gets them out of the way.

Oh, shit. I hear barking now. I must’ve jinxed myself or something by mentioning it! I’m just glad the whistle’s on its way. At least it should be shipped out today anyway.

I just got up and softly called up to them, knowing that Tom’s such a heavy sleeper, quite unlike myself. I could just make out movement through the trees. My calling to them seemed to placate them a bit, but since I’m not in the mood right now to take responsibility for calming other people’s dogs, I just threw on the sound machine in here and turned the air cleaner up out by the rats.