Signs - neon and otherwise

When the kids were little they were in an after-school program. Charles worked closer than I did totheir elementary school, so he would pick up the girls on his way home. I generally had dinner underway by the time the onslaught began.First, I would hear the basement garage door go up. Then, three car doorswould slam and that would be followed by a herd of family coming up the steps. Usually they’d take aminute to throw down book bags or remove a tie or pet an animal before starting to sniff their way intothe kitchen and talk about their day.One afternoon was different though. After a brief pause in the basement, I could hear all three tumblethrough the door at the top of the stairs and head my way with no detour.  The youngest was the first tobarrel into the kitchen, although our other daughter and Charles were not far behind. The leader of thepack was breathlessly reporting even before she came into view.“Momma! Momma! Momma! There was this little dog in the middle of the road in front of our school.And Momma, Momma, Momma, there were lots of cars. And Momma, Momma, Momma, she wasabout to get run over.”I glanced up from the distraught little face to see her sister and her daddy shaking solemn heads in silentconfirmation of this eyewitness account.  Charles especially had a deep level of concern in his big blueeyes, not quite meeting mine from under his furrowed brow.Then, the light bulb went off and I askedthe question that really wasn’t. "That dog is in this house, right?"  They all began to nod vigorously and Iheard three voices almost shout in unison, “Yes! Can we keep her?”I think the four-legged head count in our house at the time was three cats and three dogs - all but one -arescue or stray.  (Our all-time high would eventually be five and four.) We were on four acres and I waspretty sure there was a neon sign above our house with an arrow pointing down to guide homelessanimals and lousy owners.Of course, we kept the dog. What else are you gonna’ do when all the signs are there? Gizmo. She’s theone wearing the University of Tennessee hat.Not that I didn't have a little discussion later with the guy carrying her...