Page 76 of Men or Paws

If she confessed that the dog really wasn’t Houdini, my fun would be over.

Beth wasn’t getting off that easily.

“Okay, but first I really need you to do this for me,” I said. “Let’s do a trick. It will make me feel better since I’m already missing Houdini.”

Beth hesitated again. “But—”

“No buts,” I said. “I mean, unless you have something to say that’s going to make me feel better right now.”

I didn’t see how she could possibly have a comeback for that.

Lucky for me, she didn’t.

Beth nodded. “Okay . . .” She picked up the laptop and turned toward the family room.

Just then, for a split-second, I saw a woman behind her, ducking down to hide behind the kitchen counter.

I knew it.

Someone was there with her.

Beth placed the laptop on the coffee table and sat down on the couch next to the imposter dog.

“Okay, stand up for a second,” I said.

Beth arched an eyebrow. “Are you talking to me?”

I laughed. “Yes, you. Who else would I be talking to? You’re going to love this trick.”

She hesitated, then finally stood. “Okay . . . are you sure you don’t want to do this tomorrow?”

“I’m positive. Now, stand on one foot, it doesn’t matter which one.”

“Seriously?” Beth asked.

I kept a straight face. “Seriously.”

Beth stood and lifted her right knee to hip level, so that she was standing on one leg, then quickly held out her arms to help keep her balance. She looked like Daniel LaRusso getting ready to take out Johnny Lawrence with the infamous crane kick at the end ofKarate Kid.

She was seriously testing my acting skills as I maintained a serious face. “Now, touch your nose with your right index finger.”

She glanced over at the camera, wobbling, trying to keep her balance. “Who’s doing the trick, me or the dog?”

“Come on, just do it. It will make me feel better. I need to de-stress.”

Beth reached up with one hand and stuck her index finger on the tip of her nose.

“Perfect,” I said.

She frowned. “I feel like I’m taking a sobriety test.”

“Are you drunk?”

“Of course not.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.”

“Are you messing with me right now?” Beth asked. “You’d better not be recording this.”