Chapter 9

Shit! I’ll just ignore it,I thought.

“Dad, pick-up,” came the voice on the answering machine.

“I better get that,” I said reluctantly. “It’s my daughter, Meg.”

As I got up, the dogs took my place at Andy’s side. I left with a glance over my shoulder to see him burying his face in Annie’s soft fur. Envious, I made my way to the kitchen extension with my protuberant manhood pointing the way.

“Hi, Meg.”

“Oh, good, you’re okay.”

“Why shouldn’t I be?” I asked.

“Well, the ice storm and all. I would have called yesterday but our electricity was out. Our phones are remotes and they don’t work when the power is out.”

“I told you and Sean to get cell phones,” I chided.

“Christmas is coming, Santa, hint, hint,” she rejoined with that delightful laugh I had loved for years.

“Other than checking up on the old man, what did you want?”

“First, tell me what you did with your day off. I bet you slept all day.”