“So Twiggy. It looks pretty wet out here.”

“What’s a little rain?”

“Looks like a lot more than a little.”

“Yeah this is pooling up nicely. We have the tent though.”

“Yes but the wind is blowing pretty good.”

“You are so right. Let’s call it on account of rain.”

“Maybe it will let up?”

“Not a chance. The forecast says all day for this one.”

“I guess well have to play with the toys then.”

“Not that one. It’s too small.”

“How about this one?”

“The snowmen are all out. There is nothing but a crackle sound left.”

“Why don’t you choose one then?”

“The puma has decided to let the toys live.”

“The Panther decides not to let the Puma live.”

“Oh, good. It has been a while.”

“What kind of hold do you call that?”

“It’s my famous step over toe hold.”

“The Panther breaks the hold and pins the Puma.”

“The Puma decides to take a breath before the next move.”

“The Panther doubles down on the hold.”

“The Puma can’t stop laughing cause the Panther is tickling me.”

“Aw, come on. Stay in character.”

“Hard to do when laughing.”

“Try harder.”

 

 

“Hey, Tempest. Come help me.”

“What are you doing on that stair?”

“Not sure. I didn’t realize it was a Stairway to Heaven. Now I can’t get down.”

“Man. For the oldest, your setting examples leave a lot to be desired.”

“Well, it could happen to anyone.”

“Sure, it could. Needless to say, you can get down now.”

“I know that. I’m just thinking of hitting the back of the couch.”

“That would be a new position for you.”

“Sarcasm in the classroom.”

“I thought we were going to play. At least that’s what the headline says.”

“I’m resting from my stairway trauma.”

“Well, I’m not in the mood for resting. Come on, let’s play.”

“I’ll be right there. Grab a toy.”

“Okay, but no reneging.”

“I see you got almost everything out.”

“Much better choices that way.”

“I almost have this raccoon where I want him.”

“He looks frightened for sure.”

“One belt to the solar plexus should do it.”

“Hey, hold on. I hear something in the kitchen.”

“What do you hear? Tempeste?”

“Tempeste?”

 

“Twiggy. Let’s hit the backyard.”

“That does sound good. What should we play?”

“We could do the Panther and Puma hunting game.”

“We haven’t done that for quite a long time.”

“I know. So what will it take to see some movement on your side?”

“The Puma is resting at the highest part of the hill looking over the valley.”

“Hey Puma. You better not scare the folks like last time.”

“Don’t worry. The puma has more sense than to jump into the valley.”

“Okay. I left a leaf here when I came in last time.”

“You aren’t supposed to be eating leaves. I’ll bet Mom picked it up.”

“Makes me wonder how she knows it’s there. I also had a stick over here.”

“Are we going to play Panther and Puma, or will you continue talking about leaves and sticks?”

“I don’t know how you feel when your stuff disappears, but it is unnerving.”

“For heaven’s sake. Those leaves and sticks aren’t your stuff. They are forbidden fruit.”

“I would  like to see how you react if someone took your leaves.”

“Oh, brother. Do you know if you stopped eating sticks and leaves, we would have the run of the yard?”

“Hey, Mom. Is that true?”

“Is what true?”

“If I stop eating sticks and leaves, would we have the run of the yard?”

“Absolutely true.”

“Told ya, Tempeste. Why don’t you give them up?”

“I don’t have a good reason, Twiggy. I think I’m addicted.”

“Hello, leaves and sticks intervention.”

“Tempest. You awake?”

“Just getting there.”

“We need to go out. It’s a beautiful day.”

“What do you want to do out there.”

“There’s our ball. We could play fetch.”

“Yeah, that does sound like fun.”

“What are you sniffing?”

“I’m not sure, but it is a wild thing.”

“Looks like it ran right through here.”

“Yeah. If I didn’t know better, I would say it was a T-Rex.”

“Come on, T-Rex’s have been extinct for centuries.”

“I’m just saying what my nose is telling me.”

“Now I have to ask. When was the last time your nose came in contact with a T-Rex?”

“Okay, you got me. I have never smelled a T-Rex.”

“Could you be picking up the fragrance of Eau de lizard?”

“You know that makes sense. Same scent family.”

“Well, I can tell you it is not a mammal for sure.”

“How do you know?”

Mammals tend to mark their territory. I don’t pick that up.”

“What about fetching the ball?”

“I think we better report to Mom that some kind of lizard is roaming around out here.”

“Will we come back to play ball?”

“Yeah, right after I file my report.”

“Don’t mention the T-Rex, okay?”

“She wouldn’t believe me even if I did.”

“Good.”

“How’s that cot feel, Tempeste?”

“You cannot imagine how warm it is and comfy.”

“This sun is nice, for sure.”

“Why don’t you join me?”

“I like the warm concrete.”

“You would think you were a stray on the street or something.”

“No. It just feels good. It’s like a big hot stone at the spa.”

“You been to a spa?”

“I have not. I think this place has to be a spa, though.”

“It has all the trappings. Good food, no hassles, a guru to show us a better way.”

“Speaking of hassles. What are you doing there?”

“I’m doing a self-imposed massage of my back.”

“I must say you look silly doing it. I’m coming up there.”

“You could try the back message, but I’m afraid you’d never get up.”

“I just love your fat jokes.”

“You must admit being caught on your back is a bit cumbersome.”

“Okay, there is some truth there.”

“I apologize if I hurt your feelings.”

“No hurt feelings. We just have different bodies.”

“For a big-boned person, you do move well.”

“Thanks for that.”

“Tempest. We need to get back to work.”

“Aw, Twiggy. I’m still wanting to nap.”

“I know, but our time off has ended.”

“Just five more minutes with my cookie.”

“If I have to sit on your cookie, we must get going.”

“I guess that is a major thing for sure.”

“Mom is at the store, so we need to get active by the time she gets home.”

“By active, do you mean get ready for the greeting when she returns?”

“Exactly. You know the routine.”

“Yup. Wag the behind, and try not to jump up.  Get all wiggly. Throw the tongue out.”

“You got it. Boy, I forgot how high the couch is.”

“You jump from there, and Mama will have a heart attack.”

“Okay, we’ll wait for the garage door to open.”

“Maybe we should wait on the floor.”

“You know. You surprise me sometimes with your logic.”

“Well, it just makes sense. Also, Mom won’t pass out thinking you will jump.”

“It looks like you are growing up for sure. Okay, let’s go to the floor.”

“Right behind you.”

“We can’t see the car or garage door from here.”

“That’s okay. We still have our supersonic hearing.”

“I hear something right now.”

“It’s gotta be Mom. She’s been gone ten days.”

“She’s been gone twenty minutes, not ten days.”

“Just seems like it is all.”

“Okay, I heard the door. She’s coming.”

“I’m ready.”

 

“Hey Twiggy. Check this out. Twigs on the turf.”

“Yeah, the tent got blown away in the heavy winds last night.”

“Man this is like heaven. There’s tree buds too. I could make a meal.”

“Yeah and present the parents with a technicolor yawn in the morning.”

“You don’t know how good these buds are.”

“I’m not going to find out either. I don’t need a stomach ache.”

“Well suit yourself. I think this tent missing idea is a good one.”

“I heard Mom tell Dad another is on the way.”

“Oh no. How will I ever survive not having a buffet every day?”

“Get over yourself. There are hardly any buds here anyway. Dad uses the leaf blower on them.”

“Maybe if I act like I need those buds to survive, Dad will cancel the tent.”

“I doubt it. He hates to use the blower. Also you ought to get up. No one wants to see your parts.”

“This backrub is swell, you should try it.”

“I enjoy those too. They are much better without a lot of sticks, leaves, and other stuff lying around.”

“I’m beginning to see that a tent might be good after all.”

“There you go. See, there are other things in life besides eating.”

“Okay, let’s not take it too far. Eating is wonderful.”

“I agree if it is wholesome food. Putting everything in your mouth is not the way to go.”

“Hey. I don’t put everything in my mouth. I passed on a black beetle yesterday.”

“That was because he hissed at you.”

“Well, that did play into it I guess.”

“Yeah just a little.”

 

“How’s the sun?”

“You should come out here. It’s nice and warm.”

“This is a nice change from the freezing weather.”

“Yes, it is. I think there is a rabbit out there.”

“I hate to tell you, but the rabbits don’t stay around here.”

“So, what was it I saw?”

“Could be a squirrel. I know it’s not a skunk ’cause they pretty much come out at night.”

“I know what squirrels look like. That was no squirrel.”

“I can tell you by sniffing that it was not a skunk.”

“I don’t know. I am picking up an essence.”

“Might be an olfactory hallucination too.”

“A what?”

“An imaginary scent.”

“That sounds way too cool to be true.”

“Tell you what? I’m going to head in.”

“But you just got here.”

“I know, but I don’t have sunscreen, and I think I hear the call of the kibble.”

“Wait. What is that thing on the house?”

“For heaven’s sake. It is a rake. You’re worse than a horse.”

“You can never be too careful. It looked like something dangerous.”

“Give it up, and let’s get some dinner.”

“Best idea today.”