I got up early and went outside to check on Robin. When I went inside the house, I saw that Maria had gone upstairs and the dogs – the Wake-up Squad –  were with her.

When they found out I wasn’t there, they came roaring down the stairs to find me, just as I was coming up. It’s not easy to fake out a Boston Terrier, a border collie, and a Lab.

“Ha!,” I gloated. “I was too fast for you this morning. Some working dogs!” We had a joyous reunion at the bottom of the stairs.