Peanut Butter Penny

 Flying to Mexico on a six week vacation, of course meant bringing along our twenty pound dachshund, Penny. 

At airport security, a helpful guard suggested we put a wad of peanut butter on the roof of Penny‘s mouth to distract and help her with ear pain during takeoffs and landings. 

Luckily we found a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while we waited to board for under $30.

Penny’s carrier is a thing of many zippers, straps and handles. She fits in it the way some of us remember fitting into a girdle: just barely. 

We boarded the full flight and were at our seats while Penny sat in her carrier under the seat in front of us at our feet. 

We soon realized we were facing not her face, but her fanny. We would need to turn her carrier to feed her the sticky rooftop treat. 

The net pouch on the back of the seat facing us hung below the seat. Susie began to slide and push the carrier not noticing when the net got caught on a critical zipper on Penny’s carrier.  With each slide and push that Susie gave to turn the carrier, the zipper opened in equal measure. Suddenly the slide and push became a swoosh. The carrier was empty! Penny wriggled out and off she went among her favorite things in the world, feet! She sniffed and shuffled through three rows of sandals, shoes and boots. 

Meanwhile, we sat stunned and securely strapped in our seats three rows behind. 

Susie leapt out to the aisle as quickly as she could, climbing over the traveler beside her to join passengers in various positions of the inelegant dance of lifting carryons where they’re meant to fit but sometimes don’t.  

Susie spotted in a parting of a sea of legs Penny standing still, looking inquisitively around her. 

Susie picked her up and returned her to her place at our feet. Those around us seemed calm.  After the pandemic and all its attendant surprises a loose dog on a plane didn’t seem like very much to get excited about. She was no snake, after all. We were happy there were no complaints, and Penny was quiet for the rest of the flight proving, even at expensive airport prices, the peanut butter worked.