Yes, Dear…
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Gwen
Gwen with illustrated frame and border
by Anjie Coates
Photo by Anjie Coates
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  • My friend Amy Remy was competing with her dog, Walter, in Salon Freestyle when we were at Intergroom so I got to babysit her other Wire Fox Terrier, Gwen, for her while she was in the ring.
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    “OK, Gwen, we’ve got to get to class,” I say.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “OK!”
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    We walk into the AKC Advanced SAFE Groomer course and head right to the front of the class where two members of our salon, Ashley and Christine, are already seated and waiting for me and Gwen.
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    “This is us, my dear. Here, you can sit beside me,” I tell her.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “Beside you? You think so?”
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    “Not beside me?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “No.”
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    She climbs into my lap and sits on me with a big grin.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “There, that’s much better.”
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    “Oh, well I’m glad you’re comfy. I’m not entirely sure how I’m going to take notes now,” I say.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “You’ve got that whole open bit of lap there.”
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    The class starts and Ashley takes her notebook out and begins taking notes.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “Copy hers later. I’m cold. Put me in your jacket.”
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    I obediently open my jacket and she curls up inside.
  • Green illustration with white book icon
  • Dog
    Gwen: “Do I smell cookies in your jacket pocket?”
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    “Shhh, Corina’s teaching. I’m trying to hear,” I tell her.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “OK, well I’m just going to eat these, but I’ll be quiet.”
  • Dog
    Gwen sticks her head inside my jacket as well and I attempt to hold it closed.
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    Corina pauses her lecture and says, “Anjie, you should just zip her up in there.”
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    The class laughs, I turn various shades of red and Gwen pops her head out to smile at the other students.
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    Gwen: “Good idea. It’ll keep the sounds of my chewing down. Go ahead and zip me in.”
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    “OK, but stop wiggling about. There really isn’t room enough for both of us in here,” I whisper to her.
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    Gwen pops her head up and gives me a small kiss: “Sure there is.”
  • Dog
    She dives her head back inside the jacket to finish eating the stolen treats, then falls asleep with her head down the sleeve of my jacket.
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    “Gwen, honey, time to get up. We have to go take pictures of your Mom and Walter, and then go for a walk,” I say.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “Carry me.”
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    “But of course, Princess Gwennie,” I reply.
  • Green paint smear with white crown icon
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    I carry her across the tradeshow to the competition ring and get in place to take pictures of Amy and Walter.
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    Gwen: “Hi, Mom!”
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    “She’s focused on what she’s doing, hun. We’ll see her after though. Let’s go for a walk.” I say.
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    We take a walk and then head back to class.
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    “Gwen, class is starting, so try to kind of sit still, OK?” I say.
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    Gwen: “I’m bored, I’m going to go visit.”
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    “Wait…what?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Gwen hops off my lap and sneaks up beside the students in the front row.
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    Gwen: “Hi! Can I sit with you? I’m Gwen.”
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    “Oh geez, I’m sorry. Gwen, come back to your seat!” I exclaim.
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    “No, it’s fine. She can come up,” one student says.
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    Gwen hops onto her lap and listens to Corina teach in rapt attention, then returns to my lap.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “Miss me?”
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    “Yes, shh. You want in my coat?” I ask.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “Nope.”
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    Gwen walks onto Ashley’s lap and visits with her for a while, then makes her way to Christie, and then returns to me.
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    Gwen: “I shared myself with them.”
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    “Yes, I saw. That was very nice,” I say.
  • Dog
    Gwen: “I know. You can put me back in your jacket now. I need a snooze.”
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    And I tell her,
    Yes, dear
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