One time is fun with the right working dogs; two times is an addiction. The Bedlam Farm Sleep Police didn’t need to be ordered to get me out of bed, led by Fate, the too-smart ringleader, they nosed open the door to the upstairs, charged up the stairs, changed into my room.

This time, I heard them coming and jumped out of bed just as all three of them landed on me, I wasn’t quick enough. They showered me with kisses. Zinnia plowed into me and almost pushed me out of the way.

Then they sat proudly as if waiting for their trophies. “What have you done?” I asked Maria when I got downstairs.

“Oh, sweetie,” she said, smiling wickedly, “I thought you’d love to see them first thing in the morning.”

Well, I said, Zinnia sleeps on the bed next to me, and Bud is in his crate on the other side of the bedroom. I didn’t have much time to miss them, I said.

“Oh, well,” she said, heading out to feed the animals, “I guess it’s just another job for them to love doing.”