Washing the Dog

.....How do they know? I'm careful. Oh so careful! I don't get out the shampoo. I don't even so much as glance at the towel. Honestly, all I do is think about it, and that dog knows.

She looks at me and her ears go down--down in that hangdog way that lurks somewhere between guilty and painfully obedient. Then she bolts. She takes off toward the bedroom. Her hiding place is there...under the bed.

I run faster and slide in on one knee just in time to close the baby gate. Yes, that's right. We have a baby gate on the bedroom doorway for moments like this when we have to stop the dog from hiding under the bed. I sigh in relief before picking her up in my arms and plopping her in the bathroom. I won this time, but what about the next bath day?