Renovation day provided the masterpiece. Contractors banished both pets to a rolling exile, mastiff in the back seat drooling encouragement while Preston glared from the dashboard beside a nervous middle-schooler. The highway portion passed in tense neutrality, though his tail never stopped the metronome of irritation. As the truck merged onto the final exit ramp, revenge bloomed. The cat descended to the passenger cushion, arranged his spine like a sphinx on a throne, and deposited a fresh manifesto upon the upholstery. Aroma filled the car before shock reached the occupants. A frantic service-station detour followed, napkins flying, citrus wipes failing, mastiff chuckling in snorts. Preston groomed a paw, victory complete, dignity undamaged, lesson delivered.
