“So Lucy, you think we can help Dad with these leaves?”

“Yeah, what’s so hard? After all, the old boy is not getting any younger.”

“I don’t know. We don’t have any equipment.”

“Well, I think we just have to do what we do best.”

“Okay, I’m looking for the squirrel.”

“No, I meant to use our paws. We are good at that. We can get these leaves into a pile.”

“The minute I turn my back, you hit the sunbath. Why are you laying down?”

“What? I can’t hear you from here.”

“I think after all its work, it’s time for a lounge.”

“What? I can’t hear you from here.”

“Yes, indeed. Shade, lounge. If only that cabana guy would come around.”

“I heard the word cabana. I’ll be right there.”

“This could use a little fluffing. Ah, just right.”

“I’m almost there. Got drinks?”

“No, I don’t have drinks. You know how wretched the help is at this place.”

“Whew. That is a long walk. I could use some shade.”

“Take my lounge. I’m going to meditate with my hot rock friends.”

“Better be careful. I’m not sure if your butt is one of the seven chakras.”

“Do you even know what a chakra is?”

“Don’t make me laugh. Of course, I know. They are points of energy.”

“Time of meditation is over. Time to go back to the issue of the leaves.”

“We do not have an opposable thumb. That’s our out. No one would expect us to actually do work.”

“I can say sitting in the sun is a lot better than raking leaves. What about Dad getting older.”

“Yeah, don’t worry about him. One year of his life is like seven of ours. He has the advantage of being a slow cooker. Let’s just say we tried.”

“I thought I saw the ball out there, Lucy. You see it?”

“It’s not here, Little one.”

“You sure? I could have sworn it was there somewhere.”

“Still don’t see it.”

“What’s that green thing by your butt?”

“OMG. It wasn’t there a few minutes ago.”

“Well, it’s there now. Mmmm, this sun feels good.”

“Yeah, take a break. You have been working too hard today.”

I’ll tell ya. After that cold snap, this feels so nice.”

“This is my kind of living, Little Potato.”

“Of course there is that confounded squirrel, Lucy. Uh, Lucy?”

“I can’t hear you, Little One. I’m on the hunt.”

“What is it?”

“Not sure. It growled like a grizzly but smells like a possum.”

“Well, that was sure anti-climatic.”

“Not every day brings the big game, Little one.”

“How about I wait out here until it comes back. If it ever does.”

“Yeah, you do that. Not sure, but I think I heard a kibble bag rustle. Let me know if you hear something.”

“You always pull that kibble thingy. All right, I’m coming with you.”

“Hey, Lucy. I thought we were going to lay out today.”

“I’m doing just that.”

I meant with lounges, dad fetching drinks, the radio, sunscreen, and gossip.”

“Look around, Little One. We are dogs.”

“So what. That doesn’t mean we can’t have fun too.”

“Yeah, that’s true, but our fun is more basic.”

“Whaddaya mean, basic?”

“Well, like stretching out in the yard, not on a chaise.”

Or like doing this concrete instead. of a nice pillow.”

“Yeah, now you have the idea.”

That’s really not me. I look for the finer things of life.”

“Yeah, like that ant you’re chasing.”

“I mean, what’s it gonna hurt to— What are you doing?”

“Exercising the freedom granted all dogs to roll around on the grass.”

“You are embarrassing me. Next, you’ll be burying a bone.”

“Nothing wrong with that either. You ought to try this.”

“Not on my life. Mom sees me doing that, and I’ll be in the bath before I can say, Jack Robinson.”

“Well, you are missing out. I feel like I’ve been to the spa. So relaxed.”

“I still want to lay out in style. You with me?”

“Um. I think I hear the kibble dropping into a bowl.”

“You just said that to get me away from the patio, right?’

“Worked like a charm. Wait, start whining I hear mom.”

“I hear something, Lucy.”

“There is someone working next door.”

“Now, I hear something, Little One.”

“What is it?”

“Sounds like the gate opened. Let’s check it out.”

“Whoa, look at this equipment.”

“Whose stuff is that anyway?”

“I heard the boss was going to do his own lawn. Looks like he has the mower, trimmer, and blower out.”

“You think he can do it?”

“Oh yeah. He’s been mowing his own lawn for decades.”

“A decade is ten years, right? How many decades?”

“Hmmm. I think he started when he was ten years old.”

“Okay, we don’t have enough toes to count. Let’s just leave it at he has experience. What happened to the crew?”

“You know the boss. All type A and such. They didn’t do a good enough job.”

“Yeah, I can get that. Plus, they made me bark till I was hoarse. Let’s go play before he comes out.”

“I still hear something, Lucy.”

“Forget it. I’ll give you till three to haul butt to the side patio. Last one there is a cat.”

“You want  to go with us, Lucy?”

“Um. Let’s see. 90 degrees, humidity in the 70s. I’d say no.”

“Okay then, Let’s go, Twiggy.”

“I’m ready, Dad. Let’s go.”

“You. have to sit first.”

“Yeah, I forgot.”

“What’s that up there?”

“It’s a giant poodle hauling a lady.”

“She’s still there.”

“I know, Dad. If she doesn’t move pretty soon, I’m going to bark her to St Louis.”

“That is a lawnmower, Tiggy.”

“I’ve seen them through the window but not this close. It has an air of ugly, don’t you think?”

“Hows the shade feel.”

“This is nice. That sun is getting hot.”

“Let’s keep walking.”

“Hold up, Dad. There is some terrific smells here.”

“How about those flowers.”

“Look like Vinca to me, Dad.”

“The mower is still there.”

“These guys are really slow.”

“How do you like the truck, Twiggy?”

“Noisy, smelly, and too fast to catch.”

“See anything interesting, Twiggy?”

“Oh, the usual. A savage beast poodle. A lawn chewing monster. A four-door white karma crusher, and some vinca. Whew, I’m bushed from all that fighting.”

“Yes, Twiggy?”

“I forgot to say thanks for the walk.”

“You are so welcome. Thanks for keeping me safe from all those threats.”

“Anytime Dad. Anytime.”