At seven the next morning, Richard woke to the sound of someone aggressively knocking on their front door. He stumbled downstairs and found their neighbor, Mr. Peterson, standing outside in his dressing gown. The older man looked exhausted and extremely irritated. “Have you seen my dog?” he demanded. Richard glanced toward the backyard, where the animal was happily wagging its tail. Before he could answer, Emma appeared behind him with a cheerful smile. “Good morning! Would you like your dog back?” she asked. Mr. Peterson’s expression changed immediately.

He looked from Emma to the dog and then back again. “Why is my dog in your backyard?” he demanded. Emma calmly explained that she had been trying to sleep and thought the dog might enjoy a change of scenery. Richard quietly stepped away, hoping to avoid becoming part of the argument. Mr. Peterson shook his head and muttered something about calling the authorities. Emma simply smiled and said they should probably discuss the barking problem before anyone made unnecessary phone calls.