"Come meet the cats," Rico told them.
With the kids and Lenny leading the way, they followed a wrap around porch to the back of the house.
"That little guy seems like he's going to be a really good fit," Mitch said as he watched the dog trotting along between the kids.
"I wanted a small, friendly dog for Danny. And we got exactly that with Lenny," Julian said.
"You sure did," Rico said. "Mitch could carry him around in his pocket."
"Don't look down on that dog," Rob told him.
"How do I not look down on him? He doesn't even come up to my ankles," Rico claimed.
"He is going to be good company for Danny. That's all that matters," Julian told him.
On the back porch, they stopped by a screen door that led into the kitchen. Sammy went and opened the door to let out two orange cats. Right away they headed straight for Lenny who was straining to go meet up with them as well.
"Not so fast," Rob said and Danny got down to hold Lenny back.
Sammy sat on the porch steps and the cats came over to her. She pointed to each of them. "That's Natalie. That's Veronica. They're good kitties, but they try to eat anybody that's littler than them," she warned Danny then she leaned down to stare at their little cat faces. They mewed and got nose to nose with her. "Don't try to eat Lenny. I know he's little, but don't try to eat him."
While Sammy instructed the cats, Danny looked alarmed and hugged the little dog protectively.
"They won't eat him," Mitch assured him.
Sammy confirmed it. "That's right. I told them not to."
They let the pets get acquainted a little bit, and Rob remembered to take pictures. One picture was of Julian holding two cats while they both peered at him like they were in love. Of course they were. They had eyes.
Mitch had built an enclosure for the cats and he set it up on the back porch so they could stay out. They seemed to be content to sit and stare out at them while Lenny got all the attention.
Julian was talking to Mitch about renovations and Rico got busy texting. Rob was thinking that they would be leaving soon to go to dinner.
While Sammy was telling Danny how kitties drink with their tongues too, Lenny looked up at them attentively.
"He's listening," Sammy said. "Tell him something."
Danny got tongue tied so Rob helped him out. "Tell Lenny he's a good dog."
"You're a good dog," Danny said and Lenny arfed in reply. "He's always saying arf."
After thinking about it a little bit, Sammy had it translated. "It means 'I like you'."
Danny took her word for it. "You like me, Lenny? I like you too."
"Now he's happy!" Sammy told Danny.
Julian was saying how they needed to go and have dinner when Rico dismissed that idea. "You're eating with us. After we got you here, you think we're letting you get away?"
"It might not sound like it, but we're not kidnappers," Mitch said. "We would like you to stay for dinner."
Julian looked at Danny having so much fun and that decided it. But he still asked Rob, "What would you like to do?"
"We won't get a better offer," Rob told him with a grin and Julian nodded.
Mitch and Rico uncovered a grill and then they all heard a commotion out front. Running around the corner, Riley and DJ couldn't wait to see Lenny, and the little dog was excited to see them too.
"I might have texted a few people," Rico admitted.
