（０３）　Ｍｙ　Ｈｏｕｓｅ

Ms. Merci is a Chihuahua, which is said to be the smallest breed of all the dogs. In the Japanese dictionary, it is sometimes referred to as a Zashiki (tatami mat) dog. I can’t tell rakugo (comic stories) in the Zashiki (tatami mat), though. Until recently, dogs were rarely kept in the house, so a dog kept indoors is called a Zashiki (tatami mat) dog. It's a bit like a cat.

Ms. Merci is also kept at home. However, there may be some things that are dangerous if you eat them by mistake, so usually Ms. Merci can use only two rooms. What makes me especially happy is that these two rooms are fully air conditioned.

Also, one of the rooms is a dining room. This means that Ms. Merci eats with Mom and Dad. I’m sure you are smart enough to know this is important! That's right. When Mom and Dad are eating something that smells delicious, if I ask, I can eat a little! This is pretty good, and just imagining it makes me drool. This is great, but lately Mom and Dad have warned me to go on a diet.

Well, Ms. Merci's kennel is called “House”. It's easier to call it “bed” because it doesn't have a roof. But at the pet shop where Mom and Dad went to buy it, the clerk called it “House”, so even now, Mom and Dad call it “House”. It’s like a Matryoshka (Russian nesting dolls) ; there is a House within a house! I think it's better to stop calling it that way. But neither of them seems to care! I think neither of them may be as good at English as Ms. Merci.

Ms. Merci loves “House” in winter, but in the hot summer I get out of the “House” and sleep on the floor. When you sleep on a hard floor, your spine grows, which is good for your health.



I’m taking a rest in the House.


I’m in the House, napping.... zzz.


I don't want to leave the House.


I’m lying on the floor.