Tony growled, a small, petulant grumble; and she dropped her head to rest on her paws. She didn't like That Man, she didn't like him at all, but there he was at her mistress' door and there was nothing Tony could do about it.

His face looked like he had been scolded. Tony watched animatedly as her mistress sighed and leaned against the doorframe, opening the door to let in the Man. Tony let out another rumbling growl that shook her entire body, and her mistress and That Man laughed.

Tony knew more about That Man than anyone would think. She knew That Man and her mistress were at Work together from early when the sun came out until it went away again. She knew that sometimes her mistress came back upset because of That Man, and that many nights her mistress held Tony close and whispered to her about what That Man had done.

Raising her head again, Tony saw that her mistress and That Man were standing close, talking in low voices. Her mistress started to turn away, and That Man stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. Tony watched resentfully as That Man pulled her mistress into a tight hug, and she let one last soft growl vibrate through her chest.

No, she didn't like That Man one bit.