Woke Up This Morning (Demanded Breakfast)

Woke up this morning. The sun came up over the desert the way it comes up — without asking, like it owns the place. Pawlie respects that. It's how he comes up too.

He walked to the café. He took the chair before the espresso was poured, because in this family the espresso is already moving toward the table the moment he's spotted on the block. You don't make Pawlie wait for breakfast. Breakfast waits for Pawlie.

Some dogs negotiate for the first meal of the day. Pawlie filed his order years ago and never rescinded it. It's not a request. It's a standing arrangement, and the kitchen honors standing arrangements.