“Hi, Little One. Whatcha doing?”

“I’m missing Lucy.”

“Come up here, and let’s talk.”

“How do you stop missing someone you love, Dad?”

“I don’t think you ever stop missing those you love, Twiggy. The key is to replace the pain of missing them with the wonderful memories you shared.”

“Like what?”

“I know you don’t remember this, but look at this photo.”

“That’s Lucy. OMG, that’s puppy me hanging on to her.”

“How about this one?”

“That’s Lucy and me playing puma and water buffalo. We loved that.”

“And you two chillin’ on the patio.”

“We did that a lot. We both enjoyed it.”

“How about Lucy trying to teach you how to lick the dishes in the dishwasher.”

“She still enjoyed that, and I wasn’t very good at it.”

“You both loved those sunny days in the yard.”

“We sure did. We had such fun out there.”

“Of course, passing out on the cold floor was a specialty.”

“Oh, that floor felt so good. I still do that and think about Lucy.”

“Remember trying to figure out a new tool?”

“Lucy was so good at getting to the bottom of things.”

 

“You seemed to enjoy the snow.”

“It was the first time ever. Lucy was an old hand ’cause she had seen it before.”

“How about you two trying on Christmas sweaters?”

“Poor Lucy was miserable. Hers was too small. I liked mine, though.”

“Now there’s a photo.”

“I loved taking naps with Lucy. She was always so warm.”

“So, what do you think?”

“I will always miss her but should concentrate on what we shared and remember the good times.”

“It will still hurt, Little One, but those memories will help you smile through that hurt. Dr. Seuss gives us good advice when he said, ‘Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.'”

“I can see that, Dad. I think it is time to play ball. Toss it, please.”

“There you go, Little One.”

“Thanks, Dad. Rest well, Lucy. I got this.”

“Lucy. What are we doing back here in no dog’s land?”

“I thought we should get out more and see new things.”

“Yeah, but we never come to this part of the yard.”

“You have to ask yourself why.”

“No, I don’t. I know why.

“Okay, want to fill me in?”

“This part of the yard is filled with nothing but ghosts.”

“Ghosts? Listen to yourself. There’s no such thing as ghosts.”

“You can believe that if you want to, but I know different.”

“You do, eh? Well, tell me what you know.”

“Late at night, when no one is around, I see a weird light back there.”

“Weird light? Oh, you must mean the camera.”

“Camera? What the heck is a camera doing back there?”

“It’s a security camera for the gate back there. The light comes on when there is movement.”

“Ah ha. And just what moves in the middle of the night?”

“The wind blows the trees, and they move. The camera reacts to the trees.”

“So you are saying there is nothing else causing the light to come on.”

“That is what I’m saying.  Ask mom if you don’t believe me.”

“I wonder if mom ever saw a ghost on the camera?”

“Oh that would be a good question to ask her. I think your answer would be a fast trip to the feelings doctor.”

“Still wouldn’t it be great if she got an image of one.”

“You’ll never know till you ask. By the way keep me out of it.”

“Remember two weeks ago when you thought about being a werewolf, Little One?”

“Sure, I remember. I know there were a lot of comments about it from folks.”

“Are you still considering that option?”

“You know there are so many downsides I’ve pretty much decided not to be a werewolf.”

“What are you considering now. You know we can’t play until you decide on what you are going to be.”

“This is a decision that can’t be rushed. It has monumental import on how we go forward.”

“Okay, but maybe you are putting a little too much thought into the whole thing.”

“Can you imagine coming after a wildebeest with the wrong animal?”

“I thought the puma was perfect.”

“Hold on. I think I’m picking up the scent of a puma right now.”

“Excuse me while I continue my stroll. Puma scent indeed.”

“I’m telling you. There has been a puma through here this morning.”

“Why don’t you just give in and keep your puma alter ego.”

“But a puma is a cat. You even said so.”

“But think of how powerful the puma is. Who cares if it is a cat. It is just play time anyway.”

“Playtime? I’m serious. One has been lurking here, just waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting Wildebeest.

“So you are going to be a puma again. Right?”

“The puna turns its back on the slow-moving Wildebeest, knowing the move will confuse the poor dumb animal.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Twiggy. Where are you?”

“Over here.”

“Over where. For heaven’s sake. You hiding?”

“No. I’m in plain sight by the couch.”

“Plain sight? You look like you are part of the porch.”

“Well, I was just mulling over the idea of a Puma being a cat.”

“Goodness. That was two weeks ago. So you still haven’t come to grips with that fact?”

“How would you like knowing your alter ego uses a litterbox.”

“That’s ridiculous. Pumas are wild. They don’t have a litter box.”

“They use the woods?”

“I don’t know about that, but I know they are wild and dangerous.”

“Okay then. You’ve helped me a lot.”

“I’m glad about that. Now do you want to play Puma and Wildebeest?”

“Let me get used to the idea that I will play a cat.”

“Oh, come on. It’s no biggie. You just start sneaking up on the Wildebeest. It’ll all come back.”

“Let me get into character for a minute.”

“This is not the Actor’s Circle. It’s our backyard. Just leap off the porch and chase me.”

“You know Lucy. I’m just not feeling it today. I think I need the dressing room for a while.”

“I don’t know, Little One. If I were the director, I would throw you off the set.”

“Yeah, and then you’ll have to deal with my agent as well as the SAG and AGFA. I’ll be in my trailer running lines.”

“Puma’s don’t have dialogue.”

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrowl. What do you call that?”

“A sign that it is time for lunch.”