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Dear Dr. Mutt,

Could you clear something up for me? I overheard the mistress asking the master if he had gotten a ticket. I know what a tick is because I get them on occasion, but just what is a ticket? Is it a baby tick? And can humans get them too?

Baffled in Broadmore

Dear Baffled,

Words are such wonderful things, and the English language is full of them, but there is no rhyme or reason for some of their meanings. A TICK, as you well know, is that pesky bloodsucking arachnid that makes life miserable for any warm-blooded creature it can latch onto; but a TICKET is not a baby tick. According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, a TICKET can be "a paper slip or card indicating that its holder has paid for or is entitled to a specific service, right or consideration," but it can also mean "a legal summons, especially for a traffic violation." Now since your mistress used the singular, she was probably referring to the latter definition, especially if she sounded angry. How fast does your master drive?

Sparky
sparkytmutt@yahoo.com

Follow the sage advice of your personal Wonder Dog: visit Sparky's new website at http://www.sparkytmutt.4t.com.
















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