(From June 21, 2025)
"All right! Tammo's coming over to play today! Mama, stay back; Boompa's gonna open the door and I don't want you to get loose. It's not safe for you to run walk shuffle free."
"Nash! Mama! I'm so glad to be here! Nash, I have a new game to teach you! Let's go out the doggy door to the back yard, okay?"
"I learned it from Grammy. It's called 'Spin-to-Win' and she plays it with her friends online. It's a lot of fun although you might get a bit dizzy. Ready? Set? Go!"
"Catch your breath, Nash. You did pretty good, er, for an older dog, that is."
"I'm fine. Listen, Tammo. I want to share something with you alone so that Mama and Lisa don't learn about this and get scared. Be brave, son."
(Whispering) "There are strange things going on out here in the back yard. I'd appreciate your help in figuring out how I should address the issues so I can keep the ladies and the house safe."
"Yeah, sure there are. You're either trying to scare me or this is like going on a snipe hunt where everyone fools the gullible newby. Not happening, Nash."
(Sharply) "Tammo! Listen to me! This is not a prank. Look over there in the corner of the yard. See those day lilies? An old bunny died there and has turned into stone." (Lowering voice) "But I think it still lives. I have seen its eyes move. And sometimes I even find bunny cocoa puffs near it."
(To self) "Oh, this is good." (Aloud) "Sure, Nash. I'll go look, just to make you happy. And if there are bunny cocoa puffs, let's hide them from Pepper. You know how much she likes to eat them."
"Hmmm. Well, that was unexpected, Nash. I didn't see the eyes move or any bunny cocoa puffs around, though. I think it's just a garden ornament. You're safe."
(Murmuring to self) "Nice try, big boy. I'm too smart to fall for that."
"There's something else scary out here, Tammo. Lisa's back yard is not the idyllic doggy playground that it seems." (Whispering) "We have a troll that lives under the deck. The very deck that you are lying on."
"Oh, for pete's sake, Nash. I told you; I'm not falling for these tricks."
"Tricks? TRICKS?? Go inside and ask Lisa. She'll tell you that we have a troll under the deck - she herself has seen it! I triple dog dare you to ask her!"
(Thinking) "A triple dog dare? Whoa! Nashie-boy is serious!" (Aloud) "Okay, I'll go ask her. But I still don't think there is a troll under the deck. And I'm not falling for your tricks."
"Boy, Lisa needs to brush up on her dog-ese. And she calls herself a teacher! Nash? Na-ash! I'm coming back out."
"Did she tell you about the troll?"
"No. How could she since she clearly is not fluent in dog-ese? I gave it my best shot and she kept asking me, 'What do you need?' I'm gonna call your bluff, Nash. Show me the supposed troll under the deck."
"Follow me, Tammo. It usually lurks over here. Be very, very quiet. And be ready to run. Fast."
"Aroo! Yipyipyip!! Yi! Yi! Yi! There's the troll! Run for the doggy door!"
(Panting and shivering) "Hi, Lisa. Just gonna chill with you here for a while until my heart slows back down."
"Heh, heh, heh! The joke's on ol' Nashie-boy. That's a toad, not a troll! I had several in my yard back in Florida and they won't bother you. And now I have the deck all to myself. A nap sure sounds good! ZZZZzzzzzzzz."
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