Richie smiles hardly able to believe his luck as he comforts Joan. But before he can work up to making any kind of moves upon his former brother’s girl friend a knock upon the back door is heard.
Joan blinks and moves over to the door. “Oh I forgot all about the dog training class I was teaching!”
Max wags his tail rapidly having always helped Joan run her training classes he starts to get up to follow Joan.
“Max.” Richie asks questionly looking down at his dog. The one word command being enough to cause Max to obiently sit at his master’s feet.
“Its ok Richie, Max always helps me with the training courses.” As now Joan remembers Jeff helping as Max the dog instead of as Jeff the human. “Got a couple of young girls with large breed dogs that have been a bit resistant of training so far.” Watching Richie out of the corner of her eyes she opens the door smiling. As if she gets the annoying Richie interested in one of the girls in the class maybe he will stop hinting to her about going on a date every time he brings Max to the kennel. “Hello Penni!” Stepping out into the back yard she figures Richie will follow her out so she leaves the door partly open.
“Hi Joan!” Ruth yells while leading her malamute bitch closer.
“Joanie!” Beth calls waving while giving her German shepherd bitch a drink.
“We had wondered if you forgot about the class Joan.” Penni tells her friend while petting Noah her sarloos wolfhound bitch.
“We heard about Mitzi and are so sorry Joan. If you wish to cancel the class tonight we will understand.” Beth offers while the others nod.
Joan shakes her head slowly while making her way to each dog to pet and welcome them as she talks to the humans. “You all know training dogs is too much part of my life for me to give it up even for one night. Besides Mitzi would have wanted me to do this class so her play mates could become well trained doggies like herself.”
The yard a wide cleared field Joan begins getting her students to line up with their dogs. “Richie? You and Max going to be joining us?” She calls looking towards the kennel office.