Thousand: Four Hundred Thirty-Five

a padded rope around his chest. Pleasantly dazed, Bernie wonders if he’s now being tied up. But the water is calling to him, all cozy and comforting, so he goes down into it with a contented little hum. Not until his chin touches the water and his head falls back against a waterproof pillow, the padded rope holding onto him, does Bernie realize that he could go to sleep right here, in the bath. And it would be very nice indeed. A few things that might be dreams: a yellow dog wearing a red vest and waving a furled umbrella