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She ran toward it.
Oblivious to her mother's order-"Marjorie, come back here this instant!"-she pulled open the front passenger door.
Oh shit! Castillo thought.
The evening's festivities will begin with Beth's forty-pound daughter being mauled by my one-hundred-forty-pound dog.
He ran to the van.
By the time he got there, Max had leapt out of the van, licked Marjorie's face to the point of saturation, and was sitting down offering her his paw.
She put her arms around his neck.
"Marjorie, it would appear, has found a new friend," General Wilson observed. He had been on Castillo's heels and now was catching his breath.
"Is that yours?" Beth accused from behind her father. She didn't seem surprised when Castillo nodded.
"She really loves dogs," Beth said.
"So did you, honey," General Wilson said. "All your life."
"We've never had one," Beth said, and when she saw the look on Castillo's face, added, "You know how it is, moving around all the time in the Army."
Bad answer, Beth.
Your father always was able to keep one.
Truth is that Righteous probably doesn't like dogs.
They're always a nuisance and a potential source of trouble and might interfere with the furtherance of one's career.
Beth averted her eyes as General Crenshaw and Lieutenant Colonel Richardson came out of the house.
"Look at that, will you? Love at first sight!" General Crenshaw called. "Hey, Max!"
Oblivious to the weight of Marjorie clinging to his neck, Max walked to General Crenshaw and offered him his paw.
Now what, Righteous?
Your general thinks Max and your kid make a great pair.
Think fast!
"Beautiful animal," Richardson said. "You've got a nice one there."
"Yeah."
I guess I might as well face it that you are now mine, Max.
Well, what the hell. I told Abuela when she said I didn't even have a dog that I'd get one.
"Well," Richardson went on, "why don't we put the dog back in the car and then see about having a drink and something to eat?"
"I want to play with him!" Marjorie announced firmly.
"Randy," General Wilson said. "What about putting him on the patio and letting the kids play with him?"
"Good idea!" Richardson said with forced enthusiasm.
