It was just past midnight as I paced the house. My owners had gone to bed a few hours before. I knew they didn’t like it when I ate the tasty round cookies I found in the cat’s outside, but they were so good...and so forbidden. My will crumbled, like a milkbone. I made my furry little way to the cat box, and began to search.

“Doggie darn it” i thought to myself. The cat’s outside had magically been cleaned and the round cookies were nowhere to be found. I snuffed in exasperation. Then, I heard owner get out of bed.

“Cricket!” She called.

I was caught.

I slowly walked away from the cat’s outside, head hung low in embarrassment and disappointment.

“Oh cricket, you have been eating cat poop again. Shame on you”

“Yes mom” I replied. “I was doing that horrible thing. I shall lick you to begin rebuilding our broken relationship.”

Owner pulled away from me and I stared at her, confused. “ I guess I will just snuggle at your feet until you wake up…” I thought to myself.

Owner curled up under the bed fur, and fell asleep. I itched my paws -- allergy season -- and soon fell asleep.