Cassie: (yelling out the kitchen window) Charlie, what are you doing?

Charlie: Playing with the dogs.

Cassie: I don’t want you getting them all riled up.

Charlie: That’s the whole point of dogs, Mom, to rough around with them. Sheesh.

Cassie: Please?

Charlie: No, Mom. This is a total win-win. This is keeping me from getting bored and the dogs need as much human contact as possible. It’s good for them and it’s good for me.

Cassie: Nicely argued. You win with your “win-win.” But I hope you don’t get bitten by accident or step in dog poop.

Charlie: Always jumping to the worst case scenario.

(Five minutes later, Charlie comes in the door, muttering and saying things like “Dang it!” I don’t see blood.)

Cassie: Dog poop?

Charlie: Yep. Don’t say a thing.

Cassie: It’ll be hard not to, but okay.