The Slice: It’s pretty neat until the novelty wears off

Remember when you were a child and you thought being assigned school homework was pretty cool because it was an indication you were now a big kid?

Sure. Well, how long did that giddy feeling last?

Let’s move on.

Just wondering: You hear about picked-on kids getting stuffed into school lockers by bullies and others with no regard for classmates’ claustrophobia. But did that ever really happen?

Always have a spare key: “My brother-in-law Denny recently got a new puppy,” wrote Doug Zwischenberger. “A black pug named Vader.”

Denny works long hours and often drives the dog over to a family member who acts as a dog-sitter. Just the other morning, he put the dog in the car and started the engine. Then his newspaper carrier arrived.

“He got out of the car to get the paper and when he returned the car door was locked. Yes, the puppy was locked in, and the car was still running.”

Ever had a day that started like that?

Well, Denny went back to the house and was trying to figure out what to do when he heard a lot of barking. Loud barking. He went back outside and saw that Vader had managed to roll down the car window.

Denny was left to wonder. Did the dog use the force?

“I guess Vader came back from the dark side,” said Doug.

Speaking of “Star Wars” allusions: “I grew up in Lakewood, Wash., but moved away after graduating from college where I met my wife of 47 years,” wrote Tom Hilliard. “She is from Odessa and we ended up settling in Connell and now live in Moses Lake. I still have family living in the West Side but now whenever we talk about visiting we refer to having to go over to the ‘Dark Side.’

“Dreary weather and horrific traffic is the inspiration for the label. Obviously a nod to ‘Star Wars’ as well.”

Bird notes: Remember, a few weeks ago, when The Slice put out the call for someone willing and able to make bird sounds to accompany a certain piece of music to be performed by the Spokane Symphony?

Well, Slice reader Simone Ramel-McKay raised her hand and now she’s signed up to perform with the orchestra on Sept. 17 and 18.

Way to go, Simone.

Today’s Slice question: How did teachers react when they learned you were the younger brother or sister of a student they had come to know quite well?

Write The Slice at P. O Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Not everyone keeps count of how many hamburgers they have eaten since Memorial Day.