The day always begins with a very specific, very close inspection. There is no such thing as a snooze button when you live with Barnaby. His morning routine involves jumping onto the bed and placing his face exactly two inches from the waking face of his loyal servant. With wide, unblinking eyes and a nose that twitches with curiosity, he demands to know why the day hasn’t started yet. He stares with such intensity that he looks like a fisheye lens come to life, distorting reality until he is the only thing that exists.
Once the staff is finally awake, the bathroom becomes the next battleground. Barnaby is firmly convinced that the glass vessel sink is not a place for washing hands, but a custom molded lounge chair designed specifically for his tuxedo physique. He pours himself into the bowl, a perfect liquid fit, and glares at anyone who dares reach for the faucet. The audacity of trying to use the sink while he is marinating in it is simply unacceptable.
By the afternoon, the exhausting work of micromanaging the household takes its toll. The frantic energy of the morning dissolves into pure exhaustion. He retreats to the softest corner of the bed, but he doesn’t sleep alone. He seeks out his silent partner in crime a plush Snoopy doll. Draping a heavy black arm over the stuffed dog, he passes out cold, looking peaceful and deceptively innocent, as if he didn’t spend the last four hours terrorizing the bathroom fixtures.
As evening falls, the manipulation reaches its peak. He stands in the middle of the rug, posture perfect, looking up with giant, saucer like eyes. This is the starving waif look, a calculated performance designed to induce guilt. He stares upward, silent and imploring, convincing the tall ones that he has never eaten a meal in his entire life, despite having had snacks an hour ago. It works every time.
Shannon Willis can usually be found in the company of furry friends. A passionate animal enthusiast, her work is often inspired by her deep love for cats, dogs, and the animal kingdom as a whole.
