Skipper is determined to get that fly this time. I've been warning him over and over, but he never listens. He just keeps on knocking everything over, the flowers, the books, and even the pile of fresh laundry I was going to nap on are all over the floor now.

"I'm warning you," I barked, "You better stop it before you get in the bigger trouble.”

My barks did no good to calm the wild doggy. Skipper was barking and racing around from spot to spot nipping and biting and trying to eat the fly. I don't even know what happens if you do such a thing, but I might get to find out.

Eventually Gracie got back and indeed my friend was in the trouble. Skipper tried every excuse he could possibly think up, and even resorted to rolling over to show off his chubby little belly, but nothing worked to get him out of his trouble. He was going to have to face the dreaded corner of shame. Yes, it was the spot where you sit and think about how not to get caught next time. At least that's what he's doing.

Despite Gracie's command to sit and be calm for a while, my little friend keeps sneaking out of his "time-out" spot. There's just something in him today that's bugging him I guess. Everything has to be chased and barked at and if it's nice and calm, there must be a tempest.

Skipper wiggled his way towards me, creeping slowly like he was trying to be sneaky or something. I could hear his belly dragging across the rug though. I'm surprised that Gracie didn't hear it, or maybe she's just preoccupied with her clean-up project right now. Either way, Skipper was breaking even more rules and the trouble was getting bigger by the moment.

"You gotta help me," Skipper whispered, "Just let me hide in the towels or something."

"Naw," I rumbled, "You better sit in your spot where you're supposed to be."

Skipper rolled closer, "Pleeeeza!" he ruffed with pleading puppy eyes.

"Fine," I ruffed, "You can get up here on the sofa with me and hide."

Skipper pounced quick over and settled between me and the sofa. Gracie might see him, she might not. Only time will tell. After some settling, he finally managed to get completely quiet and still, perhaps hoping that Gracie's vision was based on movement. Maybe, maybe not. I'd never considered it before.

The flower vase in hand, Gracie strolled back into the room and looked around suspiciously. It took her a moment to realize what was missing. Then came the calls. The calm commands quickly turned to demands before she circled the room and roamed to the others. The hunt was on for Skipper, he'd escaped her sight and I'm pretty sure he's only getting himself into more trouble than before.

I watched Gracie pace between rooms, frantically searching for Skipper. It was a back and forth thing, turning over pillows and checking under the bed. She was looking everywhere but right beside me. It was sort of funny too because Skipper was far too fluffy to stuff all the way down in the sofa so his nose was poking out. Gracie just didn't see it though. Oh well, I'll just let this scene play out more.

After a while, Gracie's furious commands had become pleas of concern. Her voice was sounding worried now, the double trouble that she was planning had faded away. I'm pretty sure she'd just be happy that Skipper was found safe and sound at this point. So I barked.

Gracie looked at me and continued to search. So I barked again. It took several calls for her to come check on what I was barking about. And that's when she saw the nose poking out. The pillows flew off the sofa and Skipper was scooped out of his hiding spot.

"Pleeeeeze!" Skipper whined and begged.

But I was right. Gracie was just happy to see him now. The trouble had faded away now that everything was back to normal. And I'll tell you what, that's a really good trick if ever I've seen one. I'll have to remember that one next time I get in the deep troubles.