with John W. Howell
As you know by now, there was severe flooding in Texas, which as of today has killed 111 persons. There are still 170 missing. Initially, I was going to post a story about Twiggy and Tempeste in the rain, but in retrospect, it seems a little disrespectful at this stage of the search and rescue operation. So to those who lost loved ones, and to those who still have had no word on their missing moms, dads, sons, and daughters, we respectfully offer our prayers.
Well, Twiggy. Looks like a good day to be outside.”
“Yeah. I looked out the front and no wind.”
“There’s no wind in the back either.”
“Dear reader. Do I even need to respond?”
“So what do you say to a game of tug-o-war?”
“I think that would be fun.”
“You know to play, you have to put a part of this in your mouth.”
“I’ve been playing tug-of-war before you were born. Bring that thing closer.”
“Says the queen. Now I’m totally exhausted from lugging it.”
“Oh, quit faking. It wasn’t that far or that heavy.”
“Okay then. Grab one of the legs and I’ll grab another.”
“Hmm. I thought this had gone through the wash.”
“You know washing out toys destroys the eau du dog. Where are you going?”
“I’m going to step over there a little. That eau du dog is a bit ripe.”
“While you do that, I’m going to hunt for some leaves.”
“You know leaves are verboten.”
“Hey Twiggy. There are absolutely no tasty leaves to be had in this entire yard.”
“You can thank our diligent parents for that. Are we going to play or not?”
“I think I want to check out the leaf yard first.”
“The leaf yard? Where is that?”
“Right here in the South Forty. There are tons of possibilities.”
“You know you are not supposed to eat leaves.”
“Oh, I know. I don’t eat them. I just let them lie in my mouth.”
“I’ve heard it all now. It looks like you are eating those Crape Myrtle leaves to me.”
“Naw, just tasting them.”
“You know the rents have a security camera covering this area.”
“Well, all it will show is me lying on the ground licking my paws.”
“Another of the seven deadly sins. You are doomed.”
“Then I’d better enjoy these leaves.”
“You are going to be so grounded you’ll look like this flat toy here.”
“You know Twiggy. I’ve been thinking.”
“Pretty dangerous stuff, Tempest.”
“I’m serious. I want to get outside that fence and see the real world.”
“That fence keeps you from eating everything on the ground.”
“So I’m told. I believe it keeps me from developing my full potential.”
“You keep eating sticks and leaves, and you have the potential of a walk across the Rainbow Bridge.”
“Oh, come on. Haven’t you wondered what life is like on the outside?”
“I’ve been there. Besides, I don’t eat everything in sight.”
“Suit yourself. I’m going to find a weak spot and break out.”
“Don’t come crying to me if you get into trouble.”
“You’re not going to rat me out, are you?”
“Of course not. You are free to be stupid if you want.”
“Hmm. This seems pretty strong.”
“That’s cause there is a support there holding it secure. Look where there aren’t any.”
“I thought you were against this plan.”
“I can’t stand to see you flounder around.”
“Okay then. Where would you try to escape?”
“I would look for a spot that seems shaky.”
“Any ideas where such a spot would be?”
“Try down at the other end.”
“I see what you mean. Thanks a bunch, sis.”
“I know nothing. This step has been used by a beetle.”
” I think I found a place at this end.”
“I hear nothing.”
“Twiggy. Do something to help me.”
“This is another fine kettle of fish you’ve gotten yourself into, Tempeste.”
“Call Mom.”
“You are going to be in so much trouble.”
“Want to play Puma and Panther?”
“I’m always up for that game.”
“Want to switch? I can be the panther, and you the puma?”
“Wait a minute. Look at my color. How would that work?”
“You would have to imagine that you were a puma.”
“That would be hard since I have invested so much of my persona in being a panther.”
“All right then. The puma pads through the desert.”
“The panther is on a hilltop overlooking the puma’s progress.”
“The puma is surprised by the attack.”
“The panther roars and demands the puma surrender.”
“The puma roars back. ‘Not on my life.'”
“The panther tells the puma that she will take that wager.”
“Wager? What wager?”
“You just bet your life rather than surrender.”
“Okay by me, panther. You want a piece of me, come get it.”
“I can trash-talk with the best. Your old lady wears combat Boots.”
Where did you get that one?”
“I was watching an old Henny Youngman stand-up routine.”
“The puma has to avoid another onslaught from the panther.”
“The panther comes close to finishing off the puma.”
“Too bad. The puma pulls the old salamander trick and breaks free.”
“Hey, that move was outlawed in 05.”
“Well, tough. It still works. Want to rest?”
“I could go for a breather. Sure.”
“That was fun.”
“It sure was.”
“You okay?”
“I just love my sister.”
“Aw. You are the best.”
“Twiggy. Dad opened the yard. Want to go play?”
“Still pretty hot for me.”
“It isn’t even a hundred. What’s the problem?”
“No problem. I just like to go out when it’s cooler.”
“Well, okay. I’m going out to see what’s what.”
“Okay. I thought you and Mom were going to the plant store.”
“We are. But I have time.”
“This is a big place.”
“Feels good on the back.”
“I wonder if I can run the whole yard.”
“Or maybe lie around in the whole yard.”
Okay, Mom. I’m coming.
“This is a pretty waterfall. Do all plant stores have these?
These smell good. I could see these in our yard.
Okay, this I understand. I’m not one for hoses.
“Well, how did it go?”
“The plant store was interesting, but it is good to be home.
“Yeah. Home is like that.
Tempeste. Look out the window, there is a lot to see.”
“I like to keep things under control by looking down.”
“This is a great park. Let’s go to the chess players.”
“What are chess players?”
“It’s a sculpture of two beings involved in a chess game.”
A game of chest. That sounds odd.”
“It is an ancient game of strategy. And it’s chess, not chest.
“Looks pretty boring if you ask me.”
These elk sculptures look life-like, don’t they?”
“That is a serious set of antlers.”
Tempeste. Quit that.”
“I just want to see if it is anyone I know.”
Let’s head over to the heron.
“We should be quiet and not scare him.”
“He’s made of bronze and not going anywhere.”
“That is good to know. I like him.”
“How about that old log over there?”
“There could be some interesting creatures in it.”
“Well, that was a bust. Not even a spider.”
“You would at least expect some hapless ant.”
“I want to show you the bridge and creek.”
“This has been a great walk so far.”
“Some of the creek flows through the culvert.”
“Yeah, I see that.”
“Some also flows under the bridge.”
“This looks new.”
“It is. You can see the old foot path crossing.”
“I want to go down there.”
“Be careful. You don’t want to slip off the footpath.”
“This is much more interesting than the bridge.”
“Yes, it is, and more dangerous. Let’s go to the greenbelt entrance.”
“Okay. Hey wait. I see something in the water.”
“What did you see?”
“A black dog looking back at me.”
You are kidding me, right?”
“Yes, I am. This is beautiful.”
“A favorite place.”
“Twiggy. Wake up. I hear something.”
“Mmffmm.”
“I’m serious. There is something out there.”
“Ummmf. Huh?”
“We have to get up and find out what it is.”
“My goodness I just dozed off.”
“There it is again. You hears that?”
“I sure do. Funny I didn’t hear the FedEx truck either.”
“That’s what I mean. It is some kind of weird sound.”
“I guess it is up to me to figure it out.”
“There it is again. I would swear it is at the front door.”
“I don’t smell the Amazon or UPS driver either.”
“You see anything?”
“Nope and I haven’t heard that noise again.”
“It is scary that we can’t identify the source.”
“Just wait. If it’s still there it will make more noise.”
“There it is at the front door.”
“Hold your bark till we are sure it is something that we can send to St. Louis.”
“Hey you guys. I know you’re in there. Where’s my carrots?”
“Oh, brother.”
“You going to attack or shall I?”
“Let’s go back to our nap. Mom will get the carrots for those moochers.”
“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.”
