“Hi, Bailey. What’s going on?”

“Hi, Pops. I was just wondering what Lucy and Twiggy are up to out there.”

“From here it looks like they are talking.”

“Talking? What about?”

“Hard to say, Bailey. You know Lucy has taken her role as big sister seriously. Why don’t you join them and see what they are saying?”

“Good idea.”

“Hey, you guys. Whatcha talkin’ about?

“Twiggy was asking about the birds and the bees.”

“OMG so soon?”

“Relax, Bailey. She was worried about the Pelicans.”

“You tell her they are just big fish eaters?”

“Yup. Man look at that flock.”

“Anyway, I also told her to beware of those big bees.”

“What are you looking at Twiggy?”

“I think I see a bee out there Bailey.”

“I don’t think so. That looks like a fly to me.”

“A fly? It’s a pretty big fly.”

“You guys should pay more attention to those flying things.”

“Relax Twiggy. That is a heron. He also eats fish. Not too many dog eaters around here.”

“Besides, little one. if someone came after you, they would have to get through Bailey and me first.”

“Aw. That is so comforting. I feel better about the wild things, Lucy.”

“Unless they had a treat to offer.”

“Lucy!”

“Just kidding Bailey. Just kidding.”

“Hey, you guys. Come to see this.”

“What are we looking at, Little Stuff?”

“That Red, White, and Blue thing.”

“That’s our flag. Humans call it the Star Spangled Banner.”

“Can I hold it? Or better yet, get my mouth on it?”

“No Twiggy. This flag represents the land of the free. It is not for teething.”

“I do love how it smells though. So much like freedom.”

“I have one that is my size, Lucy. I know all about freedom cause I was born in freedom.”

“I know Little Stuff. Your mom was rescued from a breeder and here you are.”

You guys want to take the flag.”

“No little stuff. This is your first Fourth of July so you keep it.”

“Good idea Bailey. In fact, you ought to run with your flag, Twiggy.”

“Okay, here I go.”

“Run, Twiggy, run.”

“You go, girl. Celebrate your freedom.”

Twiggy is off today. She is recovering from her spay surgery. She is fine just confined to the house. Lucy and Baily, on the other hand, have free rein.

As most of you know, I live on a barrier island of the South Coast of Texas. This year we have been suffering from a drought. Our rainfall is in a deficit condition. So we finally got some rain and today’s story is about two miscreant doggies.

Here is a photo of the pond behind our house.  The water level is about twelve inches too low. This photo was taken on June 12th. That grey thing is a culvert pipe for the drains on the street.

As you can see with the rain, we had yesterday the pond is more than full.

Now on to Lucy and Bailey

“Bailey. What are you doing in that water?”

“I’d like to say the breaststroke, but it’s not deep enough.”

“For heaven’s sake Bailey the Boss is going to kill you.”

“It sure is fun, Lucy.”

“I think you ought to come out of there quick.”

“Um, just a few minutes.”

“Is that a frog, Bailey?”

“I’m not sure. Might even be a trout.”

“Move over. Let me look.”

“My goodness. Your white coat sure takes on the muddy hue, Lucy.”

“You are right. I have to go find some clean grass and clean up.”

“I would wait. I double dog guarantee Pops will be giving us a bath.”

“Looks like you are taking one now.”

“The beauty of a dark coat is the mud doesn’t show much, Lucy.”

“Of course when one is covered in mud.”

“You are in so much trouble, Bailey.”

“I think I have had enough.”

“You leaving?”

“Wait for me, Bailey.”

Yes, Bailey and Lucy did get baths, and yes they did have a good time.

“Thanks, Boss.”

“Hey, Dad. What’s Mom doing?”

“She is setting up the dog pool.”

“Dog pool? What is a dog pool?

“Go see for yourself.”

“Lucy, Bailey.”

“What short stuff?”

“What is this thing anyway?”

“It’s a place to get cool.”

“Cool? How’s that?”

“You know, you ask a lot of questions, Twiggy. See I’m in the water.”

“So you have wet paws, Bailey. How fun is that?

“The water feels good. If you lay down it’s better.”

“Okay let me see a laydown.”

“Not so fast little one. You need to get in here too.”

“Then there won’t be any room.”

“Bailey, who you kidding. You never lay down in the pool.”

“Sush. I’m trying to get the id-kay to ay-lay own-day in the ool -pay”

“I’m not going to lay down if you don’t, Bailey.”

“Where did you learn pig latin?

“From my iblings-say. I’ll get in but standing up.”

“Hey, mom. Hold the pool. Twiggy’s doing the Curley Shuffle.”

“This feels pretty good, Lucy. Come on in.”

“You know short stuff. I just had a manni and I think my nails are still wet.

“Lucy doesn’t like the pool, Twiggy. Don’t let her fool you”

“That true, Lucy?”

“You get out of there now, Twiggy. You never know whats under the water.”

“But I can see the bottom.”

“That’s what Captain Ahab said.”

“Okay, I’ll give it to you, Bailey. The pool is good for drinking.”

“I can’t reach it. Lucy.”

“That’s okay, Little one. You can jump right back in.”

“Hey, Bailey. How about if you leave some for us.”

“I think you two are on your own. A couple of chickens I would say.”

“So Twiggy. We have a couple of things to show you today.”

“Really Lucy? I can’t wait.”

“You have to get up and follow me.”

“Where we going?”

“Oh nowhere. I thought I heard the sound of the UPS truck and wanted to check.”

“What’s the UPS truck?”

“Remember the FedEx lesson? It’s a truck like that only brown. Okay not here. Let’s go up on the porch.”

“Wait, Lucy. I can’t get up there.”

“Sure you can. You have to do a little jump. Like this.”

“Oh, I get it.”

“Hey, Twiggy.”

“Hi, Bailey. Lucy just showed me how to jump up on the porch.”

“How nice. So now you can get up on the porch. Nice going, Lucy.”

“Oh hush, Bailey. You are such a grump.”

“Twiggy you have your own bowl over there.”

“I know, but I want to drink out of the big dog’s bowl.”

“Well help yourself. Then we have to show you the Jolly ball.”

“Twiggy. That orange thing is a Jolly ball.”

“What do you do with it?”

“You take that handle. Pick it up and run with it.”

“Ummm. This is hard.”

“You’re supposed to grab it by the handle.”

“It’s too heavy for me.”

“Forget the ball you two.”

“What’s happening?”

“It’s the UPS truck. Hurry.”

“Let me at em.”

“You go, Bailey. Twiggy. Bark your head off.”

“Why do we bark?”

“Not sure. It’s a custom. All dogs bark at the UPS person.”

“That was fun. What do we do now.”

“Well, Twiggy. We take a sunbath.”

“Sunbath?”

“Don’t let Lucy kid you, Twiggy. We take a nap. After all, we worked pretty hard today.”

“Good idea, Bailey. I’m beat.”