eyeballs still intact, thank you very much

around 7 a.m. this morning, Wicket's soft nose made contact with mine. i opened my eyes to find his big beautiful face staring right back.

i smiled at him sleepily, and drank him in--the plushy fur around his neck, the intricate black patterns along his cheek, the complex gold of his eyes...

then a month-old memory sidled into my brain. 'remember the vicious slice this beast gave your eyelid?' it whispered cruelly. 'he came within a millimeter of your retina. he almost made you a greebo.'

my smile froze...

...and i swung into survival mode without moving a muscle.

crooned, "hey there little wickers, who's such a gooood boy, whatalittlecyootie he is. yes he is. bye bye bloody thoughts. bye bye."

he cocked his head, listened intently. touched noses again, snuffled along my hairline, and trotted off. compliments accepted. disaster averted.