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Her little mouth drops open “What?”

“Let’s go see them!”

She jurab her hand We both take off jogging across the lawn to knock on the door

It’s pretty ht e see the box of three apricot puppies with their curly coats and happy little faces Lillie tries to hold all three at once She squeals and sits down, and one starts licking her face while the other grabs her pigtail and plays with it like a chew toy Finally, she gives up and lays flat on her back as the puppies jump all over her

Janet stands back grinning with her ar all three of them?”

Thatto be a hard choice”

We hang out a little while watching Lillie roll around in puppy heaven until finally, I ot to pick one, butter bean Which do you like the best?”

Her ht cry Janet hops in and saves the day

“I’ve got a little boy couys, so you’d better pick the one you like best”

Lillie’s eyes go round “Is his name Louie?”

I s a laugh, and Janet pretends to think about it “No… I think his name is Nicholas”

“That’s good” She lets out a little exhale and returns to the ss

One has returned to the box and is rooting around in the blankets Another has gone to the food bowl Only one stands by her feet as if waiting to see what she’ll do next

“Hi “We’ll call him Buddy”

“He ht not be a boy…”