What’s a cruise asks Becky A cruise says Mom is a relaxing week on a ship You usually stop at different ports But our cruise ship the Princess Belinda doesn’t make stops She only goes to San Francisco and back Mom puts down the letter I pick it up It sounds boring says Becky It’ll be fun There are kids programs says Mom I don’t like kids programs They never do stuff I want to do There’s an all-you-can-eat buffet I say I point at the letter in my hand Becky you like buffets Who doesn’t says Dad as he dishes up the bagels and beans Becky says that she’d prefer to go to the Amazon 6
I really don’t know why my parents let Becky watch documentaries on the Knowledge Network They give her ideas Too dangerous Mom says You might get lost in the Amazon It’s a jungle out there Then Becky says Can Lox Bagels and Creamcheese come along Aunt Sharon will take care of the house and the pets like she did when we went camping says Dad Bagels came camping with us says Becky That was different says Mom I look down at Bagels He grins He executes a backflip We can’t leave Bagels behind He’ll get into trouble without us Dad says Aunt Sharon will make sure he behaves 7
I doubt it Bagels has personality but he doesn’t always take instructions very well He’s a mix of sheltie whippet and Jack Russell That’s a wild combination He’s also an escape artist Sometimes Creamcheese helps him open doors and windows She likes to get him into trouble Becky and I have been training Bagels We’ve cured him of barking when he shouldn’t He doesn’t round up joggers anymore and he usually comes when called Except when he doesn’t feel like it But without Becky and me to keep an eye on him he could easily have a relapse No pets allowed on this cruise says Mom Unless they’re seeing-eye dogs or other helping animals 8
