Fun at the Lake

“Hey! You peed on me!” Lucy sneezed and shook her head, sending yellow droplets flying.

“Not my problem,” Jo said. “And if you’d keep your nose out of my business, it wouldn’t be your problem, either!” Elbie just grinned and trotted along.

It was Saturday, and that morning, Mom had to work. But when she came home she took all the furkids out to Branched Oak, to see how full the lake was.

“Look, kids,” she pointed. “Lieber’s Point is gone!” Sure enough, where the geese had made their nest was entirely underwater. In fact, there was a flat-bottomed boat slowly drifting across where Lieber’s Point used to be. People in lawn chairs were at our normal swimming beach, and ranged all up and down the banks where we usually walk.

“I’m surprised there are so many fishermen out today,” Mom continued. “I thought, with all this rain, the fishing wouldn’t be very good. Let’s go over to our picnic area, since our regular swimming hole is full of people.” We went to our normal picnic area, and there wasn’t a soul in sight.

“Ah – this is better!” Mom said, as she turned off the Dogmobile and went around to the back. “Come on out!” She opened the door, and we all leapt out, scattering in three directions. Jo went west, Elbie went east, and Lucy… well, let’s just say that she was all over the place.

Mom brought the Frisbee, and kept flinging it for JoLee. If she wanted him to actually be able to catch it, though, she had to fling it out into the lake, because Lucy would breeze by JoLee, catch the Frisbee, and then keep it from him, laughing the whole time. Lucy followed Jo out into the lake for one catch, and stood there in the hock-deep water for a moment. Then she slowly laid down.

“Hey, this feels good! You should try this, Jo!”

JoLee gave her a look, shook his head and said, “Uh, no thanks, Lucy. Has anyone ever told you that you’re kind of odd?”

Lucy stood up and shook, then followed Jo back over to where Mom stood, laughing.

“I can’t wait to tell your Dad about this,” she said. “The only other time I’ve ever seen a dog do that was when your Auntie Sheila had her greyhound Kiowa. We went to the dog run, he found a muddy puddle and laid right down in it! It was so funny!”

We had a great time exploring and running and playing. It was the kind of day that Mom wishes she could bottle, or put safely in a box, to be pulled out and enjoyed again and again!