Wife just came down to ask what type of McGriddle I wanted.

The newest taste sensation from McD's. Youngest son, our family nomad, tried them as soon as they came out and pronounced them good. Really good.

So, this weekend, we'll give them a try.

Choice of sausage and egg, or bacon and egg. Or either meat, without the egg.

Requested one of each. What I don't eat can be reheated, or given as a treat to heelers.

But this entry is about the heelers.

Masked one was downstairs with me, naturally, sleeping on the floor behind this chair (where she is now). Would love to think that we have become especially bonded, but this behavior started when the weather got hot, so I know she's just here for the cool concrete under the carpet.

Her little maskless sister, with the thinner hair coat, was following the Alpha female around, which is what she always does. Literally. Bathroom, kitchen, furnace room, outside, whatever. Where the wife goes, the little Alpha-in-training will be close behind.

Except this morning, when she stayed at the top of the stairs, watching the wife at my doorway below, somehow knowing this was a short trip and there was no need to go down the stairs.

So she stayed at the top, next to her mother, who was laying there with a sideways look of total disinterest. Her mother who is so deaf that she no longer hears us call her inside. Who no longer hears the scoldings about getting into the trash. Or the admonitions to get out of the way! Or demands to move over in the bed.

I asked the eager little maskless heeler, standing there on the top step, wagging her tail, if she was "going along to McDonald's?"...

And her mother's head immediately spun around to stare down at me in excitement, the perky triangular ears silhouetted against the sunny hallway wall.

Deaf dog, my ass.

We both started laughing, and she turned her head away again in disgust.

The jig is up, fat heeler.