The Slice: Seems like a heartfelt explanation

On Feb. 11, 8-year-old Amanda Stephens saw the results of the Today section Valentine- coloring contest.

Her entry was not among the printed winners.

So she launched an investigation to determine if her mother, one Erin Stephens of Spokane, had in fact mailed in the artwork.

Oops.

“Long story short, I was very sick,” explained Erin in a note accompanying her daughter’s belated coloring submission.

And, as she pointed out in her appeal to features editor Ken Paulman, mommies don’t really get sick days.

But sometimes, if they’re really sorry, they get second chances.

“The only trouble with Spokane is: “That a logging truck is required to drive on the streets.” — Dianne Cook

“That it’s full of people who say there’s nothing to do after 10 in the morning.” — Jerry Sciarrio

Someone who called but apparently was not interested in a conversation nominated yours truly as the answer. Then she hung up.

That caller probably wouldn’t guess how thrilled I would be if that were true. Just imagine. Me — Spokane’s only problem.

Oh, what a glorious day that would be. That would imply that all of our more challenging struggles would have been successfully addressed.

And just think how heady it would be for me to spy the pointing and overhear the whispers. “There he goes, the only trouble with Spokane.”

I’d have to get T-shirts made.

“More on the species seating chart: “In our household, humans move if our cats want your chair,” wrote Harry and Susie Loskamp. “They are very persistent.”

“In our house, we move if Becky (our dog) wants the chair we are sitting in,” wrote Kathy Morse.

“My 10-pound poodle, Sidney, has HIS spot on the couch,” wrote Pam Pierson. “If my husband is occupying said spot, Sidney will sit at his feet on the floor and growl until he moves.”

Lois and Ken Koehler have been known to make way for their cats, Fuzzy Boy and Princess Whiskers.

Another reader said most of her animals have to move to make room for people, except for a cat named Smokey described as “the head of the household.”

And Jean Heinritz theorized that pets in chairs might explain why the KXLY news anchors started standing during parts of each broadcast.

“Today’s Slice question: What is the Spokane area’s best/worst street name?