While Mom, Dad and I tended to the early business of putting hay in the pastures, Smudge trotted up, found a spot on one of the hay bales, and dove into this agonizing rendition of lamentable self-pity.  For all his desperate crying, you’d think he never knew the gentle hand of affection.

But he received plenty of petting and scratching and stroking and conversation throughout the day, including a moment or two after this photo was taken.

The satisfaction washing over him as he enjoyed the attention gave strength to the adage infused into our collective consciousness so many years ago by The Beatles: All you need is love.

Smudge believes it.