Norman: Hey, neighbor. How's it going?

Shawn: Fine. How about you?

 

Norman: Okay. Huh, by the way, my wife and I are going out of town this weekend, and I was wondering if you could take care of some of our animals while we're gone. You know our dog, Jaws, don't you?

 

Shawn: Yeah. My leg still hurts from the last incident.

 

Norman: Hey, he's just a playful little beast.

 

Shawn: Right.

 

Norman: Hey, he likes to bark a little, and his bark is worse than his bite.

 

Shawn: Oh yeah.

 

Norman: Just feed him a can of dog food a day, and make sure he has plenty of water in his dish. [Oh] And then, take him for a walk around the block.

 

Shawn: Well, how about if I just throw a Frisbee over the fence to give him some exercise? Wouldn't that work?

 

Norman: Ah, and then, he likes to watch the 3:00 soap opera on Channel 4 [What?] . . . and brush his teeth after you give you some doggie treats around 4:00.

 

Shawn: Man, you really pamper your dog.

 

Norman: And, then brush his fur for about twenty minutes. He tends to shed this time of year. [Ah, what?] And then scratch him around the ears. Otherwise, he feels neglected.

 

Shawn: Is that it?

 

Norman: Well, and then there's Claws.

 

Shawn: Claws? Who's Claws.

 

Norman: Oh, he's the cat we adopted from the animal shelter, but he's a little temperamental.

 

Shawn: What do you mean "temperamental"?

 

Norman: Well, he has mood swings [Mood swings?], but he's been doing better since he's been going to the animal therapist.

 

Shawn: A therapist?

 

Norman: So, be sure to feed him a half cup of cat food two times a day [What? A therapist . . .], and don't forget to put out (on) some soft classical music during his nap time at 2:40 p.m. But don't let him out of the house because he might run away and chase the neighbor's dog.

 

Shawn: You have some high-maintenance animals.

 

Norman: Not really. And, don't forget to change the cat litter daily, or he might have an accident on the carpet. [Oh, great.] And finally, there's Buttercup.

 

Shawn: Buttercup? Who's Buttercu . . . ? I'm afraid to ask.

 

Norman: Ah, she's a sweetie [What?] . . . if you know how to handle her right. [Oh, great.] Wait. Let me get her for you. Here you are.

 

Shawn: That's . . . That's a snake . . .[Hold her.] That's a big snake with big fangs. Does the snake go to a therapist, too?

 

Norman: Of course not . . . just an anger-management class.

 

Shawn: Oh! What?

 

Norman: I'm joking. Buttercup is a very docile creature, and she never bites anyone she likes. If she doesn't, you'll know because she starts hissing and staring at you . . . . kind like what she's doing now.

 

Shawn: Well, I'm leaving. You must be going out of you mind to think I'm going to watch a zoo full of misunderstood animals. You'd better hire some professional help 'cause I wouldn't watch them even if you paid me a million dollars.

1. It can be somewhat aggressive.

2. Let the dog watch a program on television.

3. The cat enjoys listening to rock music.

4. The snake doesn't care for Shawn at all.

5. Norman should seek someone who is well-trained with animals.