Jack was a little unhappy with himself that he was unable to keep the exasperation out of his voice. That should be a dead giveaway to Harry that he and Angela were having problems. But Harry just kept on chewing his food, a thoughtful look coming over his big, good-natured face.

"How long you been married?" he finally asked.

"About a year," Jack said cautiously, not knowing what Harry was getting at.

"You know, I been married nearly ten," Harry said, the words a little muffled as he continued to eat. "Had some trouble with the wife the first year or two. Tears, moods, the whole disaster. Took me a little while to figure out the reason… lonely."

"Huh?" Jack asked. Was that a crafty look he saw in Harry's eyes? Impossible. Harry didn't have an ounce of craft in him.

"Yeh, lonely. You know, you got no kids, live out in the sticks, not many people around. What's the poor girl supposed to do, sit around watching T.V. until you get home?" Harry seemed to be finished speaking for the moment and turned his attention back to the sandwich he was eating. Jack thought a moment. His problem with Angela was a lot deeper than Harry knew, but maybe the old boy had something there.

"So what do I do then, Harry, move into a commune or something?"

"Hell no, why don't you get her a pet, maybe a dog."

There was a long silence while Jack thought. During the first part of it, Harry kept on eating, but then he started to get nervous, as if he were afraid Jack were losing interest in the subject. "Tell you what," Harry said abruptly, "I got a dog I can let you have. Beautiful German shepherd. Well trained. Housebroken… the works."

"A German shepherd!" Jack exclaimed in surprise, then a knowing look came over his face. "Why you old bastard," he said, "you engineered this whole conversation. Admit it you just want to get rid of a dog!"