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“Oh, sorry. That was my dog growling. He hates strangers.”

“Oh, you’re taking the doggo along on the trip?”

“Yep. He just loves going on trips with me to…where we’re going.”

The car slowed as they approached a red light on the nearly deserted streets. “Which is where again? I’m not sure I heard you.”

“Oh, umm, did I say it?” Paige darted her eyes around, staring at anything except the driver’s gaze in the mirror. “I can’t recall… I may have said it already.”

“Say again. I totally did not hear you at all, sorry.”

“Oh, umm, I’m taking my little pupperoo to a dog park.”

The car rolled forward as the light changed, and the driver shot a look in the mirror before directing his gaze ahead. “You’re taking a private plane to a dog park?”

“Way to blow it, Paige! Just say a random city,” Dewey hissed.

The driver glanced in the mirror again. “Is that your dog again?”

“Yep. He heard the word park, and he’s really excited. So excited to go to that dog park in…Alaska, where we are flying to.”

With a flip of his turn signal, he swung around the corner, heading out of town. “You’re flying to Alaska to go to a dog park?”

“It’s not just any dog park. It’s a super nice dog park. With moose and polar bears.”

“They let moose and polar bears into the dog park?”

“They do. They do, yep.” Paige pressed her lips together, hoping to stop herself from speaking.

“Isn’t that dangerous for the dogs?”

“What?” Paige asked, her eyes wide.

They merged onto the highway heading out of town.

“Isn’t it dangerous for the dogs to let bears and moose in the park?”

“Oh, they don’t let them in the park. They just have them around for the dogs to look at. Like behind fences.”

“You’re terrible at this,” Dewey breathed.

Paige bounced the carrier on her lap. “Who’s excited to see a moose? My little Dewey-poo!”

“Never call me that again,” he whispered.

“Dewey, huh? Cute name. What kind of pup?”

“Teacup Yorkie.”

“Awww, tiny little fellow, then, huh?”

Paige patted the carrier as the car reached cruising speed. “Teeny.”

“I hate you,” Dewey hissed.

“So, what does someone do for a living to allow them to take a private flight to Alaska to take their teacup Yorkie to a dog park?”

“I’m a librarian,” Paige said with a grin.