I remember when Captain first came to us.  I had, as I still do, many piles of books on the floor of my study.  I had bought the complete works of Proust in six volumes, and in a translation different to the one I had previously read.  The next day I returned home and little Captain had chewed the cover from Within a Budding Grove clean away from the spine.  I did not discipline him.  I did not get mad.  I also did not shift my books.  I got down on one knee and spoke to him.  Somehow this little puppy must have been sufficiently aware of my feelings on this matter because he has never, in a year and a half since, touched any one of my books.  But oh, he chews my wife’s shoes.

-7 December 2015

This post is part of the I Remember series.