before it disappeared , she would sneak up on it and its hair would puff up like a spiky cotton ball . he was staring at us a few yards away , taking methodical sips of his drink while giving us the stink-eye . i was n't ready to meet the curious stares of the others . daddy asked already knowing the answer . we need to take a seat and get our seat belts on . '' `` some did , in the old days . '' the bumper sticker was an image of a dogs paw . 