Here is an imperfect translation of an article in this week’s Charlie Hebdo written by Sigolène Vinson entitled “À Pas de Chien.”* It touched me, and since I know the magazine is hard to get, I’m sharing it with you.

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Tictictictic…At Charlie, we have a dog. A red cocker named Lila. Okay, really she’s not all of ours, only Eric’s. Of the team, she likes Cabu most. This Wednesday, 7 January, he’s throwing her one of his parties. It should be said that on the editing table there are Breton galettes brought by Coco and a marbled cake that I bought for Luz’s birthday. And it’s for sure that Cabu’s going to give her his piece.

Tictictictic… At Charlie, we have a dog. A red cocker who scratches up the parquet floor. Riss and Charb make fun of him sometimes, because Luce defends her and pets the top of her head. Honoré prefers cats. Tignous kids. And Wolinski has a weakness for Catherine and Zineb.

Tictictictic… At Charlie, we have a dog. A red cocker who sits through our debates. “For or against Louis de Funès?” Jean-Baptiste is rather “for.” Surprisingly, Philippe as well. Fabrice doesn’t care. He just wants our planet to keep turning. Before responding, Laurent has to carry out an investigation. It’s in Antonio’s interest to be against. Gérard is the referee. Pelloux says, “I have his phone number.” (of de Funès)

Tictictictic… At Charlie, we have a dog. A red cocker who walks back and forth by Mustapha’s office. Bernard doesn’t hear her. He’s laughing (that his accent has a south-west accent…yes it’s possible) watching Elsa make big gestures while talking to us about Lacan.

At Charlie, we have a dog. A red cocker who doesn’t understand why, on Wednesday, there are so many people. The rest of the week, only Angélique, Simon and Cécile keep her company. Monday there’s a chance she’ll see Martine.

Pop pop pop pop…Then, a deathly silence. Jean-Luc and I stay on the floor.

Suddenly: Tictictictic!

At Charlie, we have a dog. A red cocker who signals to us that it’s okay, that we can get up now, they’ve left.

Lila was spared. Maybe because she’s a female.

To all my friends. And to others.

(À Pas de Chien, column by Sigolène Vinson, in Charlie Hebdo, 14 janvier 2015)

*Literal translation of the title means “In the dog’s footsteps”, but there are several play-on-words you can do with it, that I won’t even try for.