We are, finally and irrevocably, the owners of a mid-sized, older, black, mixed breed dog named Shawna. Her real name is Chomia but we decided she answers to Shawna and that should be her name.

We drove up to Yigo, a considerable distance considering we live on a small island. We ran into heavy traffic which indicated either an accident or some form of construction ahead so we chose an alternate route.

When we got to GAIN, our second visit in two days, they told us we had to fill out an application and come back. I looked at the woman and asked her if she really meant to make us travel from Talofofo to Yigo a third time. We filled out the form and got the dog.

She was good in the car. She stood, panting her nervousness, all the way home. She whined and wanted to get out but we took too long to get home and she crapped on the towel we had spread under her.

Once we got home we gave her a very soapy bath. She stood still for it, very little movement, and let us soak her, soap her, and rinse her. We did all this on the pavement out of sight of the carport.

The cats, as they usually do, met us in the carport but they disappeared when they saw the dog. Mika was the first to see our new family member. She arched her back so high that I thought she'd break it. She made herself a true horseshoe shape, a cartoon character cat from the 1930s.

Mama Kitty fluffed up all her fur trying to be bigger than she is. Her tail must have been two inches across! It's been a long time since she moved so fast.

Neko moved even faster. I'm not sure her feet actually touched the floor. The hissing sound might have been her vocalization but it might also have been the sound of her movement through the air.

Inside Shawna investigated the house very carefully. Mika had hidden in the cabinet under the kitchen sink. Mama and Neko were under the bed. Shawna paid very little attention to them. She looked around staying close to either me or Wakana. We settled on the couch to give her the idea that she could settle too.

Mika snuck out of the cabinet at one point and studied the dog intently while keeping her distance. Later Shawna went into the bedroom. Neko was on the bookcases and Mama was on the dresser. Shawna ignored them completely and they only watched her very closely. When Wakana and I settled in the office Shawna joined us and lay on the floor, keeping us company.

In a few minutes I will take Shawna out for one last visit to the yard then I will go to bed. Our first day is over.