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Ealasaide smiled benignly and waved as her human companions departed once more in search of food and excitement, leaving her alone once more with her dog.
"Merry May Day!" a new young woman said and handed her a flower.
"Thank you!" Ealasaide answered. "And a Merry May-Day to you as well." The other woman smiled and disappeared back into the crowd of partiers, gracefully ducking a flying toy on the way. Codijune jumped up to sniff at the flower Ealasaide had been handed and when Ealasaide held it down for her, she took it gently between her teeth and tugged. Curious at what the dog intended to do with the flower, Ealasaide let go. Codijune lay down and, holding the stem between her paws, proceeded to shred the bloom into a pile of colorful petals. When she had finished, she stood up and shook herself as though hugely satisfied with herself.
Ealasaide laughed and, with a surrepticious kick of her boot, shoved the pile of shredded flower under the long tablecloth of the end table where she had placed her wine glass. "Shhh!" she admonished the dog. She picked up her glass and took a deep draught of the smoky cabernet, a mischievous twinkle rising in her dark brown eyes. If she had known that the party was going to be this pet-friendly, she would have brought the cat, as well!
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