Thunderstorms Are Not Invited

Lucy has one firm opinion about thunderstorms: absolutely not.

The first rumble of the evening was so far away that we barely noticed it. Lucy did. One ear lifted, then the other, and suddenly she was standing very still in the middle of the living room like a tiny weather forecaster who had received alarming news.

By the second boom, her usual confidence had gone straight under the coffee table. This is a dog who will loudly question every delivery driver, patrol the yard for suspicious squirrels, and investigate a crinkly bag from three rooms away. But thunder? Thunder is apparently a completely different category of nonsense.

We made a little nest with her favorite blanket, turned on some music, and stayed nearby while the rain tapped against the windows. Lucy kept one paw on the blanket and one eye on the ceiling, just in case the sky needed to be personally monitored.

Storm report

• Thunderclaps tolerated: approximately zero
• Safe places identified: under the coffee table, beside the couch, directly on a human foot
• Best remedy: snacks, blankets, and very serious reassurance

By the time the storm moved on, Lucy was brave enough to emerge for a treat and a quick inspection of the windows. No squirrels had taken advantage of the weather, no strangers had arrived, and the ceiling was still where she left it.

The verdict: thunderstorms remain unwelcome guests. But Lucy handled it like a champion — a slightly nervous, blanket-wrapped champion.

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