“Dad threw the soccer ball out here.”

“I see that. What do you want to do with it?”

“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe chase it?”

“Sounds like work.”

“Nice kick. Now we need to go get it.”

“You go ahead. Kick it back to me.”

“Um. You sure you want to play?”

“I’m just turning my back to give a degree of difficulty.”

“As you can see, it’s still there.”

“Yeah. I don’t think it is self-propelled. The last one to the chaise is a dirty dog.”

“Ha, you need to take a bath.”

“Sush not so loud. Mom might hear you.”

“Now isn’t this much nicer than getting sweaty chasing a ball?”

“You’ll get no argument from me.”

“Ahhhh. Love the shade.”

“And the chaise.”

“Wait. Did you hear that?”

“You mean the sound of falling kibble.”

“Okay, so the soccer game wasn’t happening.”

“But the roar of the kibble is certainly worth paying attention to. Why is this door still closed.? Give a whine, Twiggy. That usually gets results.”

 

“How about a game of Whale?”

“We played that already today.”

“Aw, gee. I thought you liked whale.”

“I do it’s just we should play something else.”

“Dad. Lucy won’t play whale with me.”

“Go get another toy, then.”

“Okay then, I’ll get popcorn.”

“Gad. We played with popcorn yesterday for like twelve hours.”

“Okay, here’s a popcorn ball. I’ll throw it, and you go get it.”

“How about I throw it, and you go get it?”

“Now, wait a minute. I’m the one inventing this game.”

“Yeah, and I’m the one who keeps getting worn out.”

“Okay. Last chance. Fetch the popcorn ball or suffer the consequences.”

“I’ll take the consequences for a thousand, Alex.”

“Okay, the first is a straddle.”

“Still not going to chase the popcorn ball.”

“Next is a layover Dutch rub.”

“Nope.”

“The final is the super insulting head sit.”

“Now, you’ve done it.”

“Oh, I like it. The water buffalo tries to gore the puma.”

“Or the lion is about to consume the lamb for lunch.”

“But the puma strikes back, and the buffalo goes down.”

“Where she stays for the afternoon.”

“Okay. You throw the popcorn ball and I’ll fetch it.”

“The buffalo licks her wounds, and then tells the puma, ‘Give me five.”‘

 

“My goodness. There is still dirt here.”

“What Lucy? I can’t hear you.”

“I said there is still dirt by the patio stones.”

“Hold on, I want to see.”

“Okay, go look.”

“Is there a problem with having dirt there?”

“No, it just doesn’t look perfect.”

“The guys aren’t finished with the grass yet, are they?”

“No, there is a whole area that still needs to be done.”

“Well, I’m sure they will get it when they come back.”

“Yeah, I think you are right. We need to avoid it in the meantime.”

“You hear that?”

“Hear what? I didn’t hear anything.”

“I think there is something behind the fence.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“I’m going to stand by in case there is a need to put up a warning.”

“Why don’t you go ahead and bark your head off. You know you want to.”

“I need to save those barks for an emergency. You know there are still wild animals out there.”

“I’m going inside. Stay on guard Gunga Din.”

“What are you doing in my office, Little One?”

“I’m wondering if I can help you write?”

“What’s the deal? Nothing to do?”

“Well, its this shelter in place stuff. Gets old.”

“I know. How about getting out an old toy.”

“You are talking about this pumpkin pie?”

“Yeah, You haven’t played with that for ages.”

“Dad. This is a seasonal toy. This is not Thanksgiving.”

“Well, excuse me. How about the yard?”

“It is nice out here. Hey Lucy. The yard’s nice come on out.”

“be right there, Little One.”

This is nice. You were right.”

“I don’t mean to have you adopt the couch position.”

“So, what do you want to do?”

“I was thinking you and I could be trackers. We could track some big game.”

“Look, Lucy. I think I have a puma’s scent.”

“More like a stray Blue Jay if you ask me. I’m going to look for something of substance.”

“What’s up there, Lucy?”

“Not sure, but it is big. Look at the leaves move. Listen to it crashing through the forest.”

“I think you have tracked down a squirrelausauris.”

“You make it sound like I imagined the whole thing.”

“You said it, not me.”

 

“So you think we need sunscreen, Lucy?”

“No,  Little One. We’ll mind the shadows.”

“Well, now that we are out here, I want to look at that olive tree.”

“I’ll come with you. Been wanting to check it out myself.”

“You should see all the little buds on it.”

“Yeah, those are the beginning of the flowers.”

“In fact, they say flowers in April, you get a bushel of olives.”

“Flowers make olives?”

Yes, those little buds will form closed blossoms and then turn into olives.”

“You think Dad can use olives?”

“Sometimes he likes something called a martini on the rocks. He puts two olives in that.”

“Well, that sounds disgusting. Hey, what’s that noise?”

“I didn’t hear anything.”

That squeak. It’s the mail lady opening the box. How did we miss that?”

“Go get her. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Boy, Little One. You sure gave it to her. That was so satisfying.”

“I know, right? I hit her with my double-double bark. I would have loved to see her face.”

“I don’t know about you but I could sure use some shut-eye.”

“Yeah, it’s nice in the shade. Let’s do a nap. The UPS guy is not due for an hour so we have plenty of time.