“I asked if I could keep Ben, but his agent told me to go away.”

“Mommy, he told me he’s going to take me away for some candy and I can pet his fat dog.”

“So, um, Agent Thomas, is it?"I asked Agent Groundhog nervously. He gave a curt nod and continued to scan the area. "Would you like to come inside?"His head snapped in my direction like I just told him that I was giving birth right there on the sidewalk and needed him to deliver the baby--hah; I wondered if they covered that in training.”

“I could have told, just looking at him, that that was the tone he would use asking a question. A tone that took it for granted any question he asked was going to be answered because he asked it. I don't like it and I know of no way anybody is ever going to make me like it.”

“She asked me could I read and write. I told her, "Of course, and I can talk too.”

“I took a step back."Here." He plunked his wet hat on my head. "Don't go anywhere," he told me, then turned away.”