My-wife-knot-my-dog Now

His phone buzzes. The caller ID: .

A jaded divorce attorney, whose only healthy relationship is with his dog, is forced to pet-sit his estranged wife’s neurotic poodle, only to discover that untangling a “Knot” is harder in marriage than in rope.

Silence. Bruce licks Arlo’s hand.

That dog is having a panic attack. You’re a terrible father. my-wife-knot-my-dog

She’s a nine-pound poodle, not a wolf.

Why can’t you take her?

He holds her. Just for a second. Then puts her down. His phone buzzes

She holds out her arms for Cordelia. The poodle looks at Arlo. Then at June. Then—deliberately—Cordelia burrows her face into Arlo’s jacket.

I’m sorry about the knot.

Cordelia is in Arlo’s arms. Bruce sits at his feet. Silence

The doorbell rings. Arlo opens it.

– 3 AM. Cordelia wakes up screaming (yipping). Arlo rushes in. She is tangled in a blanket. He untangles her. She presses her cold nose into his neck and stops shaking.

Cordelia walks directly to Arlo’s side of the couch, climbs onto his pillow, and curls up.