My Uncle Moe pops up out of nowhere. "Don't be doing it laddie. That beast gets out of there and it'll be all over."

The old man doesn't know anything. I ignore him. Googie opens the door, wrestles with these hyper active creatures but manages to pull out the monster. The six week old bundle of energy leaps from the tailgate; dashes over to me and jumps up. He presses his front paws into my chest.

This is where it gets interesting. Very quietly I say, "No." Down he jumps; sits and looks up at me expectantly. "Googie, we're going for a walk. Right back."

"No problem, P."

"Come." That's all I say. Go strolling through the market. Dog stays at my left side, quietly, never running off, no barking, nothing. Is that even possible?

Together we circle the entire market. When we return Googie asks, "Well?"

"I'll think on it. Let you know tomorrow. Don't sell him to anyone. Okay?"

"No problem, Pick. For you buddy, anything."

At the restaurant I grab a slice of cherry pie and a mug of coffee. Uncle Moe joins me. "Well, laddie, it looks as though you have a new friend."

"No Uncle. I didn't buy him. Got to think about it."

"Silly, boy. Trust me, it's a done deal."

I walk up the hill to where the Morgan is parked. Sitting in the front seat, with his mouth slightly open and tongue showing is the monster. How did he know which car?

"Come." And he does. We walk back to Googie's table. "What's going on G? I found this beast in my car."

"Not my fault dude. Couple of minutes after you left he takes off like a bat out of hell."

I close my eyes, shake my head and take a moment to think. "TJ will drop off the money in the morning. Come monster."

And that, as they say, was that.

Ball three

"It's yours for ten thousand, P."