"No, I don't think you could have," Stella answered, her green eyes fixed on her daughter's small hand on Kaiser's head. A tiny flickering hint of salaciousness flashed across the mother's mind, but she discarded it almost as soon as it occurred to her. Not Jackie, she thought. I've heard it about some women… but not my Jackie! But it would have been fun to meet the dog breeder, I think… Her whole face sparkled with anticipation as she introduced her favorite subject – young men!

Jacqueline shuddered. She could tell already that her mother was going to launch into one of her "get-out-and-meet-some-boys" lectures. It always started the same way, with Stella telling her about this or that boy whom she had met recently. Then she'd go on about how nice he would look with Jackie, and how fantastic young men could make you feel. Recently – especially since her father had left them – Jackie's mother would even hint about sex, and intercourse! It made the poor teenager wince!

Stella sensed her daughter's reluctance to discuss the handsome young dog breeder, but she was determined to have her say anyway. Now that they had Kaiser for protection, there was no reason in the world for Jackie to continue her unnatural avoidance of all men. "Honestly, honey, he was the nicest young man! He had dark, wavy hair – not too long, about to the bottom of his ears. And his eyes! God, darling, he just had the most fantastic dark brown eyes… I could just tell, looking at him, what a stunning couple you would make…"

"Oh Mother, stop it!" the eighteen-year-old said irritably. I've met the nicest man myself, she said to herself. A nice man dog… Her naturally cherry lips curled at the corners into a silent, private smile, as her fingers scratched again behind Kaiser's ears.