It was harder than I thought to avoid Mom, Dad and Daisy on my way out, but I managed. I did feel a bit wretched about not staying to finish the full clean up, but I just couldn't be in public anymore. Petunia panted next to me as I walked the few blocks home, head down, giant hat in one hand, cake clutched in the other, the loop of my pug's leash around my wrist. Not like I needed to leash her. She could barely run, so even if she did take off she'd make it all of five steps ...