Fearful to Bossy

she wanted to be carried,

looking from high up on my shoulder, to

make sure the dog wasn't there, that scary dog.

the black one with a grey nose, Bella, 

the one that she didn't even notice a couple 

years ago.

and then

and then

treats thrown onto the couch

and then

and then,  more, and a laugh

and then, she's bossing the poor dog around

and she looks at us helplessly, poor Bella,

to ask what she did wrong.