Thursday – A Little Personal – Tempeste on Her Own.

“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.

 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste on a Walk

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.”

Thursday – A little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste and a Mystery

“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.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempest at Play

“Hey Twiggy. Looks like a great day. Let’s go out and play.”

“Good deal. I’m going to get my hat.”

“Where’s the hat?”

“It’s on the top shelf. Watch that toy, it may bounce.”

“Darn it. Got away from me.”

“I could have predicted that.”

“Got it now, though.”

“Good grief. It is still a fielding error.”

“I wonder if I should carry this thing to the goal line.”

“What do the rules say?”

“Good point. I think I’m supposed to kick it.”

“So you put it in your mouth.”

“I’m just getting it lined up.”

“Says the dog who puts everything in its mouth.”

“Okay, now all I have to do is get a running start and kick it.”

“That goal is pretty far. Which leg are you going to use?

“I used my right rear and scored a goal. Come on and play.”

“I think it would be hard to beat you. Toss it here.”

“Okay. Your turn to kick it.”

“Can’t you put it on the turf?”

“Why?”

“You’ve had your mouth on it, and I can see it’s wet.”

“You’ll never make the pros.”

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste on a Rainy Day – Resend

I realized that an e-mail wasn’t sent on a revision I had made to this post. I am republishing the post so that the e-mail subscribers will get a notification. Sorry for any confusion with this situation.

“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.”

 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste on a Rainy Day

“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.”

 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Playtime.

“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?”

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy, Tempeste, and Temptation

“What’s going on, Tempeste?”

“MMMifftt.”

“Are you eating leaves over there?”

“Not leaves. Just one leaf.”

“You know what Mom and Dad said about that.”

“Yeah, but they don’t know how tasty they are.”

“Don’t come crying to me when you get a tummy ache.”

“Haven’t had one yet.”

“Yeah, but there is always the first time.”

“I think I’ll take my chances.”

“Where did you find that leaf. Dad keeps this place picked up.”

“You know, it just floated down like manna from heaven. It was like it was meant for me.”

I think the whole thing is disgusting.”

“Want to try one?”

“For heaven’s sake, no. You should spit it out, too.”

“Well, a little late for that.”

“Eww, you ate it?”

“It just sorta melted in my mouth.”

I prefer the real food myself.”

“Speaking of that. I think I hear the call of the dinner dish.”

“At least your ears are normal.”

“Oh, by the way. You won’t tell Mom about the leaf, will you?

“And break her heart. Not on your life.”

“You are the greatest.”

Note: No actual leaves were eaten in this dramatization.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempest Hanging Out.

“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.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste and a Ball.

“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.”