My sweet jellybean,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. We love Barney. I can’t believe you found one. Murphy hasn’t stopped playing with it since you left. Murphy was so happy to see you and not just because of Barney. She has finally stopped trying to chew the eyes off. They are not, of course, the sort of plastic eyes she is used to. But it’s better this way. She doesn’t have to summarily blind it.

Is it pyjama or pajama? Pyjama is a funny word. Where does it come from? [I just checked. It’s Persian for leg garment. Neat.]

Murphy hardly ever barks except when somebody, anybody, comes to the door. It’s funny that she didn’t bark when you knocked. She must have known it was you. She misses you very much. Thanks, again.

SS