
    ,,XX

,DAVID & ,POR?OS ,-P>$

  ,B ,M>Y SPOILT X ALL1 :5 ,I S5T ,DAVID
BACK 6H] 9 ! MORN+1 09QUIR+ TOO CURI\SLY
96HIS P]SON & 4COV]+ T ,I _H PUT 8
-B9,NS ON HM )! BUTTONS 6! FRONT4 ,= ?
,I WROTE H] ! FOLL[+ 9SULT+ LR4 ,:5 ,M>Y
DOES ANY?+ T SPECI,Y ANNOYS ME ,I S5D H]
AN 9SULT+ LR4 ,I ONCE _H A PHOTOGRAPH
TAK5 ( ,DAVID 2+ HANG$ ON A TREE4 ,I S5T
H] T4 ,Y C'T ?9K ( ALL ! SUBTLE WAYS (
GRIEV+ H] ,I H4 ,NO WOMAN )! _S (A CR[
WD /& X4
  8,DE> ,MADAM ,7,I WROTE7'1 ,X HAS -E
6MY K T :5 Y WALK 9 ! ,G>D5S )! BOY
,DAVID Y LI/5 AVIDLY = 5COMIUMS ( HM &(
YR FANCI;L DRESS+ ( HM 0PASS]S-BY1 /OR+
!M 9 YR HE>T ! :ILE Y MAKE VA9 PRET;E
6REG>D !M N3 ":=E LE/ Y 2 SWOLL5 0^! V
SMALL ?+S ,I1 :O N[ "K ,DAVID BO? 0"D &
0NI<T1 AM M9D$ 6-P>E HM & ,POR?OS ! "O
)! O!R1 BO? 9 ? MATT] & 9 O!R MATT]S (
GRAV] A3.T4 ,& T\*+ ? MATT] ( \TW>D %[1
!Y >E BO? V "LLY1 & NEI ( !M LIKES X 6BE
REF]R$ TO1 B !Y 5DURE 9 DI6]5T WAYS4 ,=
,DAVID SAYS ,8,OH1 BO!R60' & EV5 AT "TS
HITS \1 B ,POR?OS DROOPS 8 TAIL & LETS
!M H _! SAY4 ,YET IS HE EXTOLL$ Z
B1UTI;L &A D>L+ T5 "TS =! ONCE T ,DAVID
IS EXTOLL$4
  8,! MANN]S ( ,POR?OS >E "!=E PRETTI]
?AN ! MANN]S ( ,DAVID1 :O :5 HE HAS S5T
ME 6HIDE F HM 2H A TREE "S"TS -ES N 9
SE>*1 & ON EM]G+ TAMELY F MY 3C1L;T ,I
F9D HM PLAY+ O!R GAMES 5TIRELY =GET;L (
MY EXI/;E4 ,":AS ,POR?OS ALW -ES 9 SE>*4
,AL IF ,DAVID WE>IES ( Y HE SCRUPLES N
6SAY S1 B ,POR?OS1 9 L CIRCUM/.ES1 (F]S
Y 8 PAW1 M1N+ ,8,F>EWELL10' & 6BE>D$ M5
HE DOES ? ALL ! "T 7,I ?9K 2C (A H]$IT>Y
4TA/E = GOATS71 S T !Y 3CV HM 6BE 5AM\R$
( !M :5 HE IS ONLY BE7+ !M C\RTE\SLY 6G4
,?US :ILE ! MANN]S ( ,POR?OS >E M POLITE
X MAY 2 >GU$ T ^? ( ,DAVID >E M
E6ICACI\S4
  8,IN G5TLE;S ,DAVID -P>ES ILL )
,POR?OS4 ,= ":AS ! "O %OVES & HAS BE5
"KN 6KICK ON SLI<T PROVOC,N1 ! O!R1 :O
IS NOISILY HAT$ ( ALL SMALL DOGS 0R1SON
( 8 SIZE1 REMON/RATES N1 EV5 :5 !Y CL+ 9
FRO? & FURY 6HIS *E/1 B C>RIES !M AL;G
TOL]ANTLY UNTIL !Y DROP (F F FATIGUE4
,AG1 ,DAVID W N UNB5D :5 9 ! -PANY (
BABIES1 EXPECT+ !M UNR1SONABLY 6RISE
6HIS LEVEL1 B 3TR>IWISE ,POR?OS1 ?\<
T]RI# 6TRAMPS1 SU6]S ALL ?+S ( BABIES1
EV5 6AN EXPLOR,N ( 8 M\? 9 AN ATTEMPT
64COV] :AT 8 T;GUE IS L AT ! O!R 5D4 ,!
-+S & GO+S ( ,DAVID >E UNNOTIC$
0P]AMBULATORS1 : LIE 9 WAIT =! ADV5T (
,POR?OS4 ,! /R;G & WICK$ FE> ,POR?OS B
NO LL CR1TURE FE>S HM1 N ! H$GEHOGS HE
3VEYS F PLACE 6PLACE 9 8 M\?1 NOR !
SP>R[S T /1L 8 /RAW F "U HM4
  8,IN PRO( ( : G5TLE;S ,I A4UCE 8
ADV5TURE )! RA2IT4 ,HAV+ G"O =A "T
6RESIDE 9 A RA2IT C.TRY ,POR?OS 0 ELAT$
64COV] AT LA/ "S?+ SMALL T RAN F HM1 &
DEVELOP+ AT ONCE 96AN EC/ATIC SPORTSMAN
HE DID P.D HOTLY 9 PURSUIT1 ?\< ALW OV]-
%OOT+ ! M>K 0A HUNDR$ Y>DS OR S & WOND]+
V M* :AT _H 2COME (! RA2IT4 ,"! 0 A /EEP
PA?1 F ! TOP ( : ! RA2IT SU45LY CAME
96VIEW1 &! PRACTICE ( ,POR?OS 0 6ADV.E
UP X ON TIPTOE1 TURN+ NE> ! SUMMIT 6GIVE
ME A "K+ LOOK & !N B.D+ =W>D4 ,! RA2IT
"H DID "S?+ TRICKY )A HOLE 9 ! GR.D1 B
,POR?OS TORE ONW>DS 9 FULL FAI? T ! GAME
0 2+ PLAY$ FAIRLY1 & ALW RETURN$ PANT+ &
PUZZL+ B GLORI\S4
  8,I "S"TS %U4]$ 6?9K ( 8 P]PLEX;Y %D
HE CAT* ! RA2IT1 : H["E 0 EXTREMELY
UNLIKELY2 N"E!.S HE DID CAT* X1 ,I "K N
H[1 B PRESUME X 6H BE5 ANO!R ?AN ! "O (
: HE 0 9 *ASE4 ,I F.D HM ) X1 8 BR[S
FURR[$ 9 ! DEEPE/ ?"\4 ,! RA2IT1 T]RIFI$
B UN9JUR$1 C[]$ 2N HM4 ,POR?OS GAVE ME A
HAPPY LOOK & AG DROPP$ 96A WEI<TY FRAME
( M9D4 ,8,:AT IS ! NEXT ?+ "O DOES80' 0
OBVI\SLY ! PUZZLE ) HM1 &! POSI;N 0
SC>CELY LESS AWKW>D =! RA2IT1 : S"EAL
"TS MADE A MOVE 65D ? 9TOL]A# SUSP5SE4
,":^U ,POR?OS IMMLY GAVE X A W>N+ TAP )
8 FOOT1 & AG FELL 6POND]+4 ,! /RA9 ON ME
0 V GRT4
  8,AT LA/ !Y SEEM$ 6HIT ^U A -PROMISE4
,POR?OS LOOK$ OV] 8 %\LD] V SELF-
3SCI\SLY1 &! RA2IT AT F/ SL[LY & !N 9 A
FLA% )DREW4 ,POR?OS PRET5D$ 6MAKE A SE>*
= X1 B Y _C ?9K H[ RELIEV$ HE LOOK$4 ,HE
EV5 TRI$ 6BRAZ5 \ 8 4GRACE 2F ME & WAV$
8 TAIL APP1L+LY4 ,B HE CD N LOOK ME 9 !
FACE1 & :5 HE SAW T ? 0 :AT ,I 9SI/$ ON
HE COLLAPS$ AT MY FEET & MOAN$4 ,"! 7
R1L TE>S 9 8 EYES1 & ,I 0 T\*$1 & SWORE
6HM T HE _H D"O "EY?+ A DOG CD D1 & ?\<
HE KNEW ,I 0 LY+ HE 2CAME HAPPY AG4 ,= S
L;G Z ,I AM PL1S$ ) HM1 MA'AM1 NO?+ ELSE
GRTLY MATT]S 6,POR?OS4 ,I TOLD ? /ORY
6,DAVID1 HAV+ F/ EXTRACT$ A PROMISE F HM
T HE WD N ?9K ! LESS ( ,POR?OS1 & N[ ,I
M/ DEM& ! SAME PROMISE ( Y4 ,AL1 AN
ADMIS.N T 9 9NOC;E ( HE>T1 = : ,DAVID
HAS BE5
PROP]LY -M5D$1 HE C N"E!.S T1* ,POR?OS
NO?+1 B ON ! 3TR>Y MAY LE>N M* F HM4
  8,& N[ 6-E 6^? QUALITIES 9 : ,DAVID
EXCELS OV] ,POR?OS--! F/ IS T HE IS NO
SNOB B E/EEMS ! GIRL ,IR5E 7PRET5TI\SLY
CALL$ 8 NURSE7 M ?AN ANY F9E LADY1 &
5VIES E RA7$ BOY :O C HIT 6LEG4 ,":AS
,POR?OS WD H E CLASS KEEP XS PLACE1 &
?\< FOND ( GO+ D[N 96! KIT*51 ALW B>KS
AT ! TOP (! /AIRS =A S]VILE 9VIT,N 2F HE
GRACI\SLY DESC5DS4 ,MO/ (! S]VANTS 9 \R
/REET H _H ! LOAN ( HM 6BE PHOTOGRAPH$
)1 & ,I H B N[ SE5 HM /ALK+ (F = T
PURPOSE )A PR\D LL H\SEMAID :O IS LOOK+
UP 6HM Z IF HE 7 A W>RIOR = :OM %E _H PD
A %ILL+4
  8,AG1 :5 ,DAVID & ,POR?OS >E 9 _! BA?1
PRAISE IS DUE 6! "O & M/ 2 )HELD F !
O!R4 ,= ,DAVID1 Z ,I H NOTIC$1 LOVES
6SPLA% 9 8 BA? & 6SLIP BACK 96X F ! H&S
T WD TRANSF] HM 6A T[EL4 ,B ,POR?OS /&S
9 8 BA? DROOP+ ABJECTLY L A %AM$ FIGURE
CUT \ ( "S LIMP MAT]IAL4
  8,FUR!RMORE1 ! 9V5TIVE;S ( ,DAVID IS
2Y T ( ,POR?OS1 :O _C PLAY 0HMF1 & "KS N
EV5 H[ 6TAKE A SOLIT>Y WALK1 :ILE ,DAVID
9V5TS PLAY;LLY ALL "D L;G4 ,LA/LY1 :5
,DAVID IS 4COV]$ ( "S (F;E & EXPRESSES
SORR[ "!=1 HE DOES T ?+ NO M =A "T1 B
LOOKS AB HM = O!R (F;ES1 ":AS ,POR?OS
9CONT95TLY REP1TS 8 (F;E1 9 O!R ^WS1 HE
AG BURIES 8 B"O 9 ! BACKY>D1 & M>VELS
GRTLY T ,I "K X1 AL? 8 NOSE 2 CRU/$ )
E>?4
  8,T\*+ ^! MATT]S1 "!=E1 LET X 2 GRANT$
T ,DAVID EXCELS ,POR?OS2 & 9 DIV]S
SIMIL> QUALITIES ! "O IS NO M ?AN A MAT*
=! O!R1 Z 9 ! QUAL;Y ( CURIOS;Y2 =1 IF A
P>CEL -ES 96MY *AMB]S ,POR?OS IS MIS]A#
UNTIL X IS OP5$1 & ,I H NOTIC$ ! SAME ?+
( ,DAVID4
  8,AL "! IS ! TAK+ ( M$IC9E4 ,= AT
PRODUC;N (! VIAL ALL GAIETY SU45LY DE"PS
F ,POR?OS & HE LOOKS ! O!R WAY1 B IF ,I
SAY ,I H =GOTT5 6H ! VIAL REFILL$ HE
SKIPS JOY;LLY1 YET ?9KS HE / HAS A "R 6A
*OCOLATE1 & :5 ,I REM>K$ 4P>AG+LY ON ?
6,DAVID HE LOOK$ S %Y T "! 0 REV1L$ 6ME
A PICTURE (A C]TA9 LADY TR1T+ HM = Y\?;L
MALADIES4
  8,A ?+ 6BE 3SID]$ ( 9 BO? IS _! RCVG (
PUNI%;TS1 & ,I AM N[ REM9D$ T ! GIRL
,IR5E 7:OM ,I TAKE 9 ? MATT] 6BE YR
M\?PIECE7 -PLA9S T ,I AM N SU6ICI5TLY
SEV]E ) ,DAVID1 & D L1VE ! *ID+ ( HM =
(F;ES AG/ MYF 6H] 9 ! HOPE T HE W LOVE
H] LESS & ME M "!BY4 ,: WE H HOTLY >GU$
9 ! ,G>D5S 6! DETRI;T ( \R DIGN;Y4 ,& ,I
"H SAY T IF ,I AM SL[ 6BE SEV]E 6,DAVID1
! R1SON "!( IS T ,I D>E N 2 SEV]E
6,POR?OS1 & ,I H "E S"\ 6TR1T ! "O !
SAME )! O!R4
  8,N[ ,I REFRA9 F RAIS+ H& OR VOICE
6,POR?OS 2C 8 GRT HE>T IS NI< 6BR1K+ IF
HE S M* Z SUSPECTS T ALL IS N WELL 2T HM
& ME1 & HAV+ /RUCK HM ONCE "S YE>S AGO
N"E C ,I =GET ! %U4] : PASS$ "? HM :5 HE
SAW X 0 ,I :O _H /RUCK1 & ,I % /RIKE HM1
MA'AM1 NO M4 ,B :5 HE IS DETECT$ 9 ANY
UNSEEMLY ACT N[1 X IS MY /]N PRACTICE
6CANE MY WRIT+ TA# 9 8 PRES;E1 & EV5 ?
PUNI%;T IS ALM M ?AN HE C BE>4 ,":=E IF
S* *A/ISE;T 9FLICT$ ON ,DAVID 5C\RAGES
HM B 65T] ^U FRE% TRESPASSES 7Z ! GIRL
,IR5E AV]S71 ! R1SON M/ 2 T 8 HE>T IS N
L UNTO T (! NO# ,POR?OS4
  8,& IF Y RETORT T ,DAVID IS NATUR,Y A
DEPRAV$ LL BOY1 & S DEM&S H>%] M1SURE1
,I H / MY ANSW]1 6WIT1 :AT IS ! MANN] (
SEV];Y MET$ \ 6HM AT HOME8 ,& LE/ Y %D
%U6LE 9 YR REPLY ,I % M5;N A NOTA#
PASSAGE T HAS -E 6MY E>S4
  8,Z ?US1 T ,DAVID HAV+ HE>D A HORRID
^W 9 ! /REET1 UTT]$ X ) UNC;N 9 ! HOME4
,T ! "M ?R1T5$ CORPORAL PUNI%;T1 ":AT !
"F TREMBL+LY 9T]V5$4 ,T ,DAVID 3T9U+
6RJC EXCE$+LY 9 8 ^W1 ! "F SPOKE D>KLY
(A CANE1 B ! "M RU%$ 2T ! -BATANTS4 ,T !
PRO#MATICAL *A/ISE;T 2CAME 6,DAVID AN
OBJECT ( ROMANTIC 9T]E/4 ,T ? D>K5$ !
HAPPY HOME4 ,T CA/+ F 8 PA? A WEEP+ "M1
! GOAD$ "F AT LA/ DA%$ F ! H\SE YELL+ T
HE 0 AWAY 6BUY A CANE4 ,T HE M]ELY WALK$
! /REETS :ITE 6! LIPS 2C (! T]ROR ,DAVID
M/ N[ 2 FEEL+4 ,& T :5 HE RETURN$1 X 0
,DAVID RADIANT ) HOPE :O OP5$ ! DOOR &
!N BUR/ 96TE>S 2C "! 0 NO CANE4 ,TRULY1
MA'AM1 Y >E A FITT+ P]SON 6TAX ME ) WANT
( SEV];Y4 ,R %D Y 2 GIV+ ?ANKS T X IS N
Y ,I AM -P>+ ) ,POR?OS4
  8,B 6MAKE AN 5D ( ? -P>ISON1 ,I M5;N T
,POR?OS IS "E WI%;L 6EXPRESS GRATITUDE =
MY K9D;S 6HM1 S T LOOK+ UP F MY BOOK ,I
SEE 8 M\RN;L EYES FIX$ ^U ME )A PAS.NATE
ATTA*;T1 & !N ,I "K T ! WELL-NI< UNBE>A#
SAD;S : -ES 96! FACE ( DOGS IS 2C !Y _C
SAY ,?ANK Y 6_! MA/]S4 ,":AS ,DAVID
TAKES MY K9D;S Z 8 "R4 ,B = ?1 :ILE ,I
%D *IDE HM
,I _C D S1 =( ALL ! WAYS ,DAVID HAS (
MAK+ ME 6LOVE HM ! MO/ POIGNANT IS T HE
EXPECTS X ( ME Z A MATT] ( C\RSE4 ,DAVID
IS ALL = FUN1 B N"O MAY PLUMB ! DEP?S (
,POR?OS4 ,N"E!.S ,I AM MO/ NE>LY DO+ S
:5 ,I LIE D[N 2S HM ON ! FLOOR & HE PUTS
AN >M AB MY NECK4 ,ON MY S\L1 MA'AM1 A
PROTECT+ >M4 ,AT S* "TS X IS Z IF EA* (
U KNEW :AT 0 ! WANT (! O!R4
  8,?US WEI<+ ,POR?OS ) ,DAVID X 7 H>D
6TELL : IS ! WOR?I]4 ,":=E D Y KEEP YR
BOY :ILE ,I KEEP MY DOG1 & S WE % BO? 2
PL1S$40











