February 8, 2020

White Dog and the rest of the White Dog Army noticed the pile of towels that appeared next to me after breakfast. She headed back to bed. Zso and Bai dashed out of the dog door. Bella moved to the way back in one of the crates and covered her eyes with her paws. Pearl huddled in her watching chair and cried softly. The boys also made themselves scarce.

I looked at Opal. "How about it, Sweetheart? I have been promising it would be your turn for weeks now. Are you up for a bath?"

Opal is our only Army member who enjoys being groomed. She stands still and turns to deliver the areas most in need of brushing. And she always looks longingly at the closed bathroom door and sounds of bathing that comes when some "unlucky" pup is forced into the tub.

She likes the idea but she was not going to make it easy for Steve. He locked down the dog door. Those outside sat and howled about the injustice they imagined being done as Steve and Opal played a ritual game of "Catch Me." They she surrendered.

I spread open several towels to form a cocoon which I would wrap my wet girl in when they emerged. Roman stood on alert at the bathroom door and White Dog paced anticipating a ruckus. Instead, it was calm and soothing as Steve talked Opal through what he was doing for the bath.

For her part, it was reported later, Opal stood still and tilted her head up so her chest and front legs could be soaped. She pressed against Steve's hands as he massaged and lathered her back and haunches then let him use his hands to sort of squeegee the dripping water.

Then Opal was carried out into my waiting towels. The dog door was opened and My Sparkling One was surrounded by the WDA who wanted details and to make sure she was unharmed. We blotted her furs and let the wetness soak into layers as Steve cleaned ears. Then she hopped down to shake and send drops flying over us all.

"No more drying momma," she said. "I will air dry by pacing all over the house and by rolling on the sofa. But do I get a treat?" She got TWO treats and kisses for a job well done. "You are so clean, white and soft," I whispered to her and she smiled.