Agatha is now 10-weeks old and slowly navigating all the rules of the world.
I am a puppy.
I know many things now.
I know my name is Agatha.
I know the big white machine means adventure.
I know the Kong is for chewing.
I know Charlie does not like bouncing.
But knowing a rule and remembering a rule are not the same thing.
People have many rules.
Do not chew that.
Do not potty there.
Leave Charlie alone.
Agatha, No Bite.
Agatha, stop.
Agatha!
That one is very loud.
Sometimes I find something that needs chewing.
I know it needs chewing because it is near my mouth.
I pick it up.
The people say, “No, Agatha.”
I put it down.
Then I look at it.
It is still there.
Maybe the rule is finished now.
I pick it up again.
“No, Agatha.”
The rule is not finished.
This is disappointing.
The people give me my Kong.
The Kong is allowed.
The other thing is not allowed.
They are both chewy.
People make rules that do not make sense.
Potty rules are hard too.
Outside is for potty.
Inside is not for potty.
I know this.
Most of the time.
Sometimes I am playing.
Playing is important.
I run. I bounce. I chase things.
Then suddenly—
Oh. I have to potty.
Right now.
The door is very far away when you have to potty right now.
Sometimes I remember.
Sometimes the people remember for me.
Sometimes nobody remembers fast enough.
Then the people make serious faces.
We go outside.
Outside has grass.
Outside has smells.
Outside has sticks and pine cones.
Sometimes I forget why we came outside.
Then the people wait.
They say, “Go potty, Agatha.”
I smell one place.
Then another place.
Then another place.
Finding the right potty place takes time.
People do not understand this.
Charlie has rules too.
Charlie says his bed is his bed.
Charlie says his space is his space.
Charlie says his tail is not for chasing.
Charlie says many things without saying words.
Mostly he sighs.
I want Charlie to play.
I bounce near him.
Charlie walks away.
I follow him.
I bounce again.
Charlie looks at me.
It is a very serious look.
I stop. For a little while.
Then I remember that I want to play.
I follow him again.
Charlie growls.
I jump back.
My heart goes boom-boom.
Charlie keeps walking.
Maybe growling means,
“This rule is not finished either.”
I am learning.
Chew the Kong.
Potty outside.
Do not bother Charlie.
These are the house rules.
I try very hard.
But I am a puppy.
My teeth want to chew.
My legs want to run.
My bottom does not always give me enough warning.
And Charlie is very interesting.
Rules are hard.
But this is my house now.
These are my people.
Charlie is my Charlie.
So I will keep trying.
Maybe tomorrow I will remember all the rules.
Probably.
