“OK, Bella, what do you say we get you finished?” I ask.

“Eh, I’d rather nap,” Bella yawns.

“You can nap later, dear. Your Grammy is expecting to pick you up soon, so we do need to get you done,” I remind her.

Bella stretches languidly on the dry deck and then gives an all-over body shake: “OK, but do I get a treat for going?”

“Well, I was going to do treats once you were all done,” I say.

Bella: “I’d rather do treats now.”

“So, you don’t want picture room treats?” I ask.

Bella: “Wait, no; that’s not what I said.”

“Well, you can do treats now or treats then, but not both. You’ll end up with an upset stomach, and your Grammy will not be pleased,” I remind her.

Bella: “OK. Treats then, but I get head rubs now.”

“OK, deal,” I agree.
We walk down the hall to my table and Bella hops up. I put her loop on and her head springs into my hand.

Bella: “Head rubs first.”

I smile as I massage her head, and she lifts her chin and closes her eyes.
“You do love the head rubs. We good now?” I ask.

Bella: “Yeah.”
Bella smiles and stretches her neck as I fluff her ears and neck with the stand dryer.

Bella: “Warm.”
After drying the rest of her head, Bella watches me open the nail trimming drawer on my toolkit.

Bella: “Nails are all set. Don’t need that done.”

“Yes, you do. I can’t trim your feet without doing your nails, and your feet will hurt if I don’t do them,” I say.

Bella shakes her head in dismay: “I can’t do it. Nope.”

“What if Ashley gives you head rubs? Can you do it then?” I ask.

Bella: “Fine. But only good head rubs, no half-hearted ones.”

“Sounds fair. Deal,” I agree.
Ashley comes in to rub Bella’s head while I trim her nails.

“Nails are done! Now we have to trim you up so you look pretty for Easter,” I tell her.

Bella: “Grammy tells me all the time that I’m pretty.”

“Well, this will make you look extra fancy. How’s that?” I ask.

Bella: “Yeah, that sounds good.”

I finish up her trimming and clean her ears.
“Shall we get your picture taken?” I ask.
I unclip the loop, and Bella is already in motion heading to the picture room.
“OK, pick your costume,” I say.

Bella: “Tutus!”
Bella noses through all the tutus as she wags excitedly. I hold up two in her size and she puts her head into her choice.

Bella: “This one!”

“I should have known. You always chose pink,” I say.
I set the pink ears on her head and hand her a treat, then snap off a few pictures of her smiling.

Bella: “Treat!”

“Oh right, sorry,” I say as I hand her another treat and hang up the costume.

Bella: “That was only two.”

“No, that was three. Wasn’t it?” I ask.

Bella: “Nope. Two.”

“Well, then here’s your third treat,” I say.

“Time to go, dear; Grammy will be here soon,” I tell her.

Bella ignores me and continues sniffing about on the platform, knocking over the eggs. Finally looking up, “Maybe. If I could have just one more treat…”

I reply, “Yes, dear…”