Crate of Lettuce

"Now you listen here and listen good", Victor said and pointed a hairy finger at Brook. The dog's body shook as she excitedly wagged her tail. "No! Do not wag your tail at me, young lady, or I swear to God you're eating lettuce for a month." She barked once, though it was clear her heart wasn't in it. Victor closed his eyes, inhaled, and then tried once more. "All right, sweetheart... Sit." Brook sat down though there was still mischief in her eyes. "Okay, good. Now... Down." The shepherd instantly jumped up and barked twice to which Victor yelled exasperated. Suddenly a young voice, it couldn't be older than a toddler, spoke up a few feet behind him. "Hey, mister! That's not how you're supposed to do it." "Oh for God's sake" The redhead muttered under his breath and turned around to find a small boy on a tricycle in front of the liquor store. "Well, what pray tell, am I supposed to do then?" The toddler rode his tricycle closer and inspected Brook. "You're supposed to ask her all nice and pretty. Since she's a pretty dog. You can't just order her around." He paddled closer and looked, as seriously as a four year old can, at Brook. "Sit." Brook sat. "Down, please." Brook licked her lips and looked from the kid to Victor. She opened her jar in a half-grin and then sat down. Victor grumbled something incoherent and walked off with Brook in tow without saying another word. "Hey, mister, where are you going?" The kid asked with genuine curiosity. The tall redhead answered without turning back, "I'm going to buy a crate of lettuce."