NOTE: This chapter has an accompanying photo posted on Tumblr, under the user name kindly-whisper-tolkien and the tag fleetwood.
July 12
There is going to be a new member of our family!
Thorin and I have been talking with Sally, the elderly lady next door, and – well, we're adopting her dog from her! Because it is hard enough for her to get herself around, she really can't walk Hershey (that's the dog's name, and though the name might suggest a boy dog, it is a girl) as often as she should. She loves her "pup", but she feels bad about keeping her cooped up all the time; and, oh, that dog is so chubby!
Anyway, the boys are all excited about it, especially Frodo! Already, he has been walking and playing with Hershey every day, and it makes him sad when he has to send her back home at night. As for where she will sleep when she moves in with us, she is going to have to stay in the shower stall for a while, until we can make better arrangements.
And Frodo doesn't want Sally to be alone after Hershey comes with us, so he is going to give her his betta fish to keep her company! Really, the whole situation is so sweet, though a bit sad. We are certainly going to keep in contact with Sally, and send her pictures of Hershey as often as we're able! Well, and we'll send pictures of the boys, too. She has practically become a grandmother to them since we've gotten here!
I don't know how the cat is going to react, of course; but he seems not to dislike me, at least, as much as he used to. He even settles in between me and Thorin most evenings (and he hasn't tickled my face with his tail for a while) – so maybe he's loosening up a bit, in general!
At least, I hope he is, since tomorrow we are leaving for a campground in North Carolina! I'm sure Rolly will not be happy about having to travel, at least; but perhaps he will forgive us, since the trip is going to be significantly shorter this time around.