“Has your son decided what he wants to be when he grows up?” I asked my friend.
“He wants to be a garbage man,” he replied.
“That’s an unusual ambition to have at such a young age.”
“Not really. He thinks that garbage men work only on Tuesdays.”
From Penny’s sister J
Book Blurbs – Glossary of Terms
| Enchanting | there’s a dog in it |
| Heart-warming | a dog and a child |
| Moving | child dies |
| Heart-rending | dog dies |
| Thoughtful | mind-numbingly tedious |
| Haunting | set in the past |
| Exotic | set abroad |
| Audacious | set in the future |
| Award-winning | set in India |
| Perceptive | set in north London |
| Provocative | infuriating |
| Epic | editor cowed by author’s reputation |
| From the pen of a master | same old, same old |
| In the tradition of | shamelessly derivative |
| Spare and taut | under researched |
| Richly detailed | over-researched |
| Disturbing | author is bonkers |
| Stellar | author young and photogenic |
| Classic | author hanging in there |
| Vintage | author past it |
At a workshop on dog temperament, the instructor noted that a test for a canine’s disposition was for an owner to fall down and act hurt. A dog with poor temperament would try to bite the person, whereas a good dog would lick his owner’s face or show concern.
Once, while eating pizza in the living room, I decided to try out this theory on my two dogs. I stood up, clutched my heart, let out a scream and collapsed on the floor.
The dogs looked at me, glanced at each other and raced to the coffee table for my pizza.