All through their first date, there was no mention of dogs. Not once did she say, "I like dogs" or "I love dogs" or even "I have a dog." So naturally, dogs were the furthest thing from his mind. But when he picked her up for their second date at her East Sixth Street apartment, he found himself faced with several unpleasant surprises. She lived on the block that many referred to as Little India, …showed first 75 words of 4411 total…

…showed last 75 words of 4411 total…slick hardness of the teeth, harmlessly sliding against his skin as the dog chewed, and the rubbery, purpley gums and the drool puddling in his palm as an uncontrollable sign of approval. He watched the dog swallow. And he knew he would be back. He knew he would continue this covert operation, little by little, no matter how many times it took, doing it in installments, brazenly bribing him until he and Hoo-Hoo were friends.