October 31, 2021

White Dog and Steve were discussing predictions on how many Trick-or-Treaters would visit our home this day. There are not many children in our neighborhood but we have a population of college students who attend the University just a few blocks away. 

White Dog argued that many would be out celebrating not just Halloween but a chance to break out of the isolation imposed by the pandemic. "I think we will see more than normal," she maintained. "It is a good thing you got candy to hand out."

Steve thought that we would see few costumed callers and was already planning to freeze some of the candies to avoid being a glutton over the next week. "You will see," he told White Dog, "people may go to parties but they won't be door-to-door. Roman and Opal will be on duty to announce arrivals, if they come, so no one will be missed."

The White Dog Army had already checked out the candy bowl. "It is all chocolate things like dad and momma like," they complained.

"Ahh, my dears, there you are oh so wrong!" I exclaimed. "Did you really think there would be no special WDA treats?" Suddenly every pup was in front of me. "It is a bit different for you, though. It is not trick OR treat...it is trick THEN treat!" And I pulled out a newly opened bag of salmon jerky sticks. "Who wants to play?"

"Me first," Bailey called then dropped to the ground...where she stayed for a long enough time that her siblings tried nosing her or closing ranks in front of her.

I opened the bag. Bai stayed down with eyes closed. I took out a salmon stick. Still holding, Bai was setting a high standard. "Treat!" I said to her and held out the nom. "That was a wonderful Dead Dog!"

"Who is next with a trick?"