It was late in the afternoon, or maybe early in the evening. Winter had set in and it was cold. It got dark very early because of the show clouds that moved in.

Suppertime came and when we lined up, there was a hole in the ranks.

Pepper was MISSING!

Mom went to the family room and asked Dad if he had Pepper there, with him. She would take her afternoon nap beside him while he watched a game.

No Pepper!

Dad thought she was with us, me and Cookie, or with Mom!

We hadn't seen Pepper all afternoon!...................

We searched all over the house. Dad took the pillows off all the beds because Pepper had hidden there once before.

Still no Pepper!

Me and Cookie and Mom went out to the backyard to look there. Mom was getting very upset because Pepper can jump the fence at the gate. We have 6 foot fence everywhere except on that side.

But still no Pepper! We went back in.

Mom put her coat and boots on. She was getting even more upset. She asked Dad if it were possible that Pepper had jumped the fence when he put the trash out for the noisy truck. He said "No".

Mom said she was going up to the field and where was the flash light. Dad said it didn't matter as there were no batteries. Mom said something, but I had never heard that word before.

Mom left. I could hear her calling. Cookie and I continued to search the house.

The sound of Mom's voice got farther and farther away. I began to get worried. It was dark. Mom never goes out in the dark. She should have taken me with her!

We kept helping Dad look. Suddenly Dad stopped and looked funny. He went to the door and called out to Mom. She heard him and answered.

She came home. "What did you say?" she asked Dad. Dad replied, "Go look in the family room. In the cedar bed."

"No way!". "Yes. Go look."

Cookie and I ran in with Mom and there, down inside the cover for the bed was a VERY small bump. It was Pepper. Mom said "Get her up, Fox!", so I did.

Pepper stuck her little head out of the opening and looked sleepily at us. "What? Do you want me?" she seemed to say.

"Come on. Let's eat dinner", said Mom. And off to the kitchen we went. No more hole in the ranks.