offering

Unlike an alarm clock, the Pug cannot be turned off on weekends. Pilgrim will sound at 6:30am Saturday and Sunday, regardless of how late I was up the night before- or rather, into the morning.

Today was no exception. He performed a relentless effort to get me out of bed to let him outside, and feed him. This usually persists for an hour, or two- then I break down and take him for a walk.
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The weather was cooler this morning, ergo, we were able to make it to Prospect Park, before he sat down in protest (Pugs are notoriously lazy, as well they freeze or overheat easily). As we approached Prospect Park Avenue, a woman twenty-five feet ahead was arranging a stoop sale. She yelled out, "PUG! Mother look, it's a Pug!"

Pilgrim paused. He watched the woman's flapping arms and listened to her calls. I assured him, "let's go." Precariously, he walked towards her.

"I have a pug book for you! Here take it!" She presented, " PUGS," by Fiolmena Doherty to me. "Oh, thank you. That's okay. You don't have-"

"Take it"

"Do you have Pug?"

"No, I just love the Pugs"

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After picking up a few loaves of bread and enjoying peach and turkey sausage samples at the outdoor market, Pilgrim and I headed home. A woman stopped us, "I love Pugs! I have two!" She motioned to her canvas bag which had a photo of a pug and said, "I love my pug!" across the bottom.

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At home, I presented the book to Vadim. He immediately jumped in and began to read aloud. What we learned:

"Pugs are intelligent and determined little folk, with much charisma and charm" (108).

"The perfect blend of little dog appeal and wistfulness and big dog stamina is to be found in that adorable creature- the Pug" (4).

"Did you ever talk to a Pug? When you do, the little fellow will look squarely into your eyes with his own huge, dark, flashing ones; cocking his wrinkled head to one side, and you can just hear him say, 'I'm listening and understanding, Boss' " (4)

"The Orient undoubtedly gave the world this philosophical little fellow...However...the theory that pug dogs were imported (in large numbers in the 18th and 19th centuries) from Russia is unquestionably correct." (8).