Familiaris

Twenty-seven years pass: John is 50 and works on and off at Mellen Telephone Company while running his dog business. He raises and trains dogs, tracking them for their entire lives when possible. Mary is staying in town after having taken care of her friend, JoAnne Baker. She is not ready to return home. John and Mary have two adult children, Edgar, or Gar, and Claude.

Saturday afternoon, John works on training and then spends time with a mother dog, Ocky, and her pups. He takes the yearlings and Ocky inside in the evening. The yearlings’ training is going well, having been through a “miracle month” when they start catching on to training. Drencher’s line guides John—“There is no such thing as misbehavior. Only behavior” (573).

Sunday morning Claude is missing, having not returned home after leaving to get pinkeye medication for a dog. Outside, John finds Forte, Gar, and Claude’s large dog. After cleaning and feeding Forte, John calls the telephone office to check for any messages from Claude. He investigates Claude’s room, finding veterinary textbooks, cigarettes, and $362. He and Ocky then leave in the Ford Woody.