The man talks on the telephone. He sits on the couch or stands and paces. He smiles. It's a silly looking smile. His voice is gentle and loving. He laughs and his eyes sparkle. I watch him as I chew on my honking toy. My teeth hurt. Another one falls out. I can feel some growing in their places. I chew even harder. 

The man is happy when he talks on the telephone. He stays happy the whole day and plays with me. I love the telephone. I bark when it rings. I chew on it. The man sends me away and I trot off to play with my toy or chew on my paws. My owner is happy and that makes me happy. I wag my tail. 

The bell rings a lot too. Always one of the men I've grown familiar with come to say hello. And I wag my tail and shake my rump and sniff their feet. They pet me and speak to me and call me Charlie. And I bark because I'm Charlie! That's me! They sit on the floor and play with me. They sit in chairs and talk with my owner. Sometimes they give me treats. I love treats! My tail wags so hard I fear it might fall off! 

Sometimes the smaller man, who I figured out is my owner's brother, comes over. He brings with him a musical object. They play together and the music is louder than ever. It feels fuller, somehow. They use the music to speak to each other and to answer. It's a language all their own. How I wish I could speak that language! Sometimes I bark along and sometimes they laugh. Sometimes my owner snaps his fingers and I stop. I take my honking toy in my growing teeth and limp away. 

My owner takes me outside when it's not raining. It's still cold and windy and our walks are shorter. My owner wears layers of clothes. He gives me my own set of clothes. Some wrap around my body with holes for my paws. Some go over my head. I love them! I feel much warmer outside! I could walk forever! I could walk around the whole world and sniff everything I find! I don't know why humans don't sniff things, they miss out on so much! 

It feels so good to sleep in my bed again! My owner lets me sleep next to him and we warm up despite the cold outside. "Had a good day, Charlie?"

I lick his face. He smiles and closes his eyes. That's me, I'm Charlie! He laughs and pats my rump. I spin around a few times before plopping down and closing my eyes. 

**********

"Can I get ya' anythin'?"

"Some tea would be nice."

I stare at the new woman. She smells like flowers. Her fur looks like my owner's only shaped different. It doesn't hang in her face and I can see her clearly. Her eyes are gentle and soft. Her hands are covered with clothes. Even they smell nice and she lets me sniff them. "That's my dog Charlie."

"He's gorgeous! Hi, puppy!"

I wag my tail. Her voice is soft and her smile is kind. I love her! She's wonderful! She takes off the coverings on her hands and pets me! Her hands are soft! I want to lick her face! She's nice and wonderful and smells good! 

"Charlie, meet Linda."

My owner looks so happy! He smiles and put his arms around the woman! They're smiling! They're happy! I'm happy! I spin and bark! The woman laughs! They drink bitter smelling liquid and talk. They kiss an awful lot. I don't know why humans kiss when they could lick! You taste much more that way. And if you lick hard enough food comes out! Mum taught me that, it's great fun! 

The humans don't lock me out this time. They let me in and let me sleep on the bed with them. We cuddle and snuggle and I chew my leg. They pet me and talk to me. I love this woman, I hope she stays forever. 

"I love you, Malcolm."

"Love ya' too, Linda."

"And we love you, Charlie."

I close my eyes and sigh. I'm Charlie...