Jennifer took a short cut to the post office while Maddie and I sniffed our way down Walnut Park, crossed D Street (where we had to yell at a couple of drivers who tried to run us down in the crosswalk), and made our hellos to a pair of happy yellow Labradors, so we didn't have to wait very long before she skipped down the stairs, holding a post card. "Look, Maddie," said Jennifer. "Look what you got."

"Is it lunch?" asked Maddie.

"Lunch?" asked Jennifer. "It's too early for lunch. We're going for coffee. You're hungry already?"

Maddie looked down at her feet. "A little bit." She looked up at Jennifer. "Maybe we can stop at Copperfield's, too. I know where they keep the treats."

Jennifer shrugged. "I already figured Ross would drag us in there." I grinned. Jennifer held out the card for Maddie to see. "You got a post card from Colorado."


"Ooh, it's pretty," she said. "But it's upside down." Maddie glanced up at me, narrowing her gaze. "You were in Colorado."

"Last year," I answered, taking the card from Jennifer and turning it over before holding the back up for Maddie. "Who's it from?"


"It says 'Miss Maddie,'" said Maddie. "Hey, that's me!"

"Maddie, that's your address." She pointed. "This is the person who sent it."

"It says it's from Hollie. Oh, I know, she's on LiveJournal. I like the way she signs her H."

"So what's it say?" asked Jennifer.

"Ummm... 'Hello from Colorado, Maddie,'" read Maddie. "Hey, that's me again."

"Go on," I said.

"Okay, okay," said Maddie. "It says 'I wanted to say hello and give the sunlight in your box some company.' And then it says the word 'pets' with little stars drawn next to it. I know what that means: footnotes! I'll bet they're under that sticker." She pawed at the postal barcode affixed to the card.

"I don't think that's supposed to be a footnote," I said. "I'm pretty sure that means this." I handed the card back to Jennifer, then patted Maddie atop her head.


"That's amazing," said Maddie. "I had no idea you could mail one of those."