Dogster

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The World According to Star

Skunked!

“Mmmm...” JoLee’s nose was up in the air, right alongside mine, as we inhaled deeply. “What is that incredible smell?”

I cocked my head to one side. “I think it’s what Mom calls ‘Skunk,’ Jo. I’ve never met one myself, so they’re a bit of a mystery to me, but anybody that smells like that has got to be interesting in person, don’t you think? I’d love to meet one!”

As we got closer to the Vampire House, the odor intensified, and so did JoLee’s desire to meet a Skunk.

“I’ll bet that Skunk is in the Vampire House!” Mom said, from behind us, on the end of our leashes. Vigorous rustling sounds were coming from the dark area next to the house, where the stairs go down to the basement, and Jo strained at the end of his leash, eager to go meet a Skunk.

But Mom hauled him back, like a fish on a line. “You don’t want to get involved in that, JoLee, trust me,” she said, forcing us to continue on our way. “Skunks may smell great to you, but I don’t really think you want to meet one in person!”

Mom likes to think she knows us, but sometimes Mom can be so wrong!

The New Marsh

When Mom came home, we knew something was up. See, we have our usual routine - Mom comes home, I grab a toy to tease JoLee with, Mom lets JoLee out of his crate, and then we usually race each other upstairs to play and wrestle while Mom changes her clothes. After we settle down, Jo and I like to lay on the bed and swap rawhides, and sometimes, Mom will lay down beside us and pet us and relax for a bit. It’s a really nice time of day.

But that night was different. Mom had an extra spring in her step, and we could smell exuberance in the air. When we went upstairs, Mom changed into her hiking boots and jeans, instead of the flip-flops and shorts she’s been painting in. Neither Jo nor I could concentrate on our rawhides with all those messages hanging in the air.

“C’mon, kids!” Mom said, once she’d changed. “Let’s go exploring!”

“It’s been a time since we’ve been exploring,” I told JoLee. “This is going to be fun!”

“What’s ‘sploring?” JoLee wanted to know.

“Well, it’s when you go somewhere you’ve never been before,” I said. “And we’ve been here so long, we’ve pretty much run out of places to explore - or so I thought!”

Mom unfolded the StarSteps and after we climbed into the Dogmobile and the steps were re-stowed, we were on our way!

“D’you think it’s far?” JoLee asked anxiously.

“I dunno,” I replied. “Why?”

“I - uh, well, I probably should have peed before we left.”

I laughed. “Well, we’ll see. Haven’t you learned how to hold it after all your crate practice?”

JoLee shifted. “My crate doesn’t go over bumps like the Dogmobile.”

He stuck his head back out the window. So did I - just in case.

It wasn’t long before we got to the New Place. “See?” I brought my head back inside. “Not far at all - in fact, it’s closer than Shoemaker Marsh!”

JoLee was jumping around - Mom thought it was all excitement, but I knew better, and I stayed well away when he got out of the Dogmobile. Jo rushed over to the first tall weed he saw, and I could see the relief on his face. It made me grin, to be honest.

We walked over to a placard/sign sort of thing that explained what Mom was looking at - we were standing at the edge of another Salt Marsh - a rare thing, so Mom read.

“If they’re so rare, how come we have so many of them?” JoLee asked.

I shrugged. “I have no idea, JoLee - I really don’t.”

We walked down to the edge of the Marsh, where truck tracks led the way around the edge, and began our exploration. It was interesting, but nothing we hadn’t seen or smelled before. Since this was our first time here, Mom was being particularly careful that nobody else was out there, so nobody could appear unexpectedly. After a while, she decided all was safe (which I could have told her - it was raining), so she let us both off-leash. What a grand time we had! JoLee sprinted ahead, and I chased him, and then I led him on a chase all the way back to Mom - and we did that lots of times!

By the time we were headed back, my tail was drooping, I was so tired.

“Star, you’re limping again - did you overdo it, sweetheart?” Mom was concerned, and she stopped me to give me a hug. I licked her on the nose.

“I think I twisted it, back there in that muddy part, Mom, but I think it will be okay. Just let me walk slow for a while.”

We continued on our way, and JoLee and I both collapsed, panting, once we got back into the Dogmobile.

“Hey, that exploring stuff is fun, Star!” JoLee grinned. “But - hey! Where’s your boomerang?”

“What? No! I didn’t lose my tag, did I?” I was so bummed - mostly because I knew Mom would be bummed, too. JoLee sniffed around, looking for it.

“Nope - it isn’t here. You must have lost it when you slipped back there. Oh, man.” He nosed me. “But your new collar is still very pretty, Star!”

I put my head down on my paws and sighed.

“Well, I guess Mom will get me a new tag. I hope I don’t get lost before then!”

On Guard!

“Want to come outside with me?”

Mom held the front door open, and Jo and I obediently filed outside.

I headed straight for my Porch Bed (it’s one of those Coolaroo beds, with an old sheet draped on it, because the bed fabric is so nubbly it hurts my elbows). JoLee started flycatching. Mom’s painting the Front Porch, you see, and we like to hang out with her while she works.

“You mostly just nap, though,” JoLee observed.

“Well, there’s no need for me to do anything else,” I replied, mildly. “You have Guard Duty all sewn up.”

Jo looked proud. “Yeah, I’m pretty good at letting Mom know if anybody’s coming up our sidewalk, aren’t I?” His little chest puffed out.

I grinned. “Yeah, and if someone’s on the sidewalk on the other side of the street, and if there’s a squirrel or a bunny, or anybody walking their dog, or someone down the street coming out of their house, or if someone parked their car, or - ”

“Yeah, yeah,” JoLee interrupted me. “I get it, already. I’m just - interested in my surroundings. Yeah, that’s it.” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.

It’s actually quite pleasant, keeping Mom company on the Front Porch. It’d be even nicer if she would stop moving her ladder around - that makes me nervous. I’ve seen lots of cartoons where a bucket of paint turned a black dog into a white one, and I don’t particularly want to see how I look in sky blue.

“You could always be ‘Navajo Red,’ Star” Jo interrupted. “Just think of it - a red dog with black spots. Or maybe that mustard yellow - just the thing with your eyes!” He laughed.

I grinned back at him. “With my luck, it would just be that dull tan they’re painting the walls, and nothing interesting or spectacular.”

Jo sat beside me and we both basked in the morning sunshine. “I kind of like being out here on the Front Porch,” Jo said. “Why don’t we spend more time out here, Star?”

I considered. “Well, I think it’s because Mom doesn’t feel safe with us out here. You see how she has us barricaded in with the glider, the trash can and those two tables. If we could prove to her how good we could be, and never run after anything we saw, even if it was a dog who looked like it might want to pee on our yard, she might spend more time out here with us.”

JoLee barked a laugh. “Yeah, right. Like that’s ever gonna happen!”

We grinned at each other.