But mom, we need a pet!

Last week during the cold snap, Riley ran away. Oh the drama. It started with my morning phone call to Kathy to see if Jaxsen wanted to come over to play. She says he does but she doesn't to bring him over. I suggest he just walks over, we're only next door. We discuss. We decide they need some independence and should start walking next door (though we both know we're just lazy and still in our jammies). We decide on a version of Marco Polo, she'll send him out the door and I'll call for him until he's safely arrived. I explain the plan to Chloe. She too is worried, why isn't his mom coming? Is he okay? I can tell she too thinks we're lazy but I tell her to wait by the door. We fling open the door and start calling for him. Chloe throws out some words of encouragement, 'come on Jaxy, you can do it, you're a big boy!'. He's not coming. Finally I see Kathy dragging him down the driveway. Riley sees them too and goes flying out like the Walmart greeter. He pees all over the snowbanks and rolls in the snow while they scurry up the driveway. Kathy and I are calling him in but he's not quite ready. I grab his leash and run out to coax him in. I offer him a WALK and shake his leash. He stops and ponders then he too realizes I'm lazy and haven't walked him in 4 years. He then turns around and runs down the road like a bat out of hell. Kathy and I discuss but I play the Marley's sleeping card and assure her that he'll be back soon. I send her home. In my mind I know that in 7 years Riley has never come home on his own. We always have to send out search parties usually including vehicles, leashes and treats. I'm kind of worried but Marley's sleeping, right? Chloe asks where Riley is and I say he's gone for a bit. She freaks out and says, 'but Mom, we need a pet!'. Duh. Then Kevin magically phones and after hearing our pickle says, 'so who's going to get him?'. 30 seconds later I'm running down the road in someone else's boots yelling for Riley. He finally emerges from the path and I turn around and start running up the hill so he'll want to chase me. He passes me in no time flat...he's cold. I'm out of breath after the first house and my lungs are on fire. I tell myself it's the cold air and finally make it home. The kids are so happy to see Riley that I'm sure he'll do this again for the warm homecoming....oh the drama.