Friends along the way
Jun 27th, 2010 by Elsi
Dolphin: Friends? Hmph! I don’t have friends; I’m above that. I will admit I was mildly interested in “Mama Cat,” who was walking on harness and leash outside my window this afternoon. She didn’t do anything interesting, of course. The closest I come to “friends” is when children spot me on the dashboard. They stand around in awe of my wonder; that’s gratifying, to see the young realize my immense wonderfulness.
Sallie: Well, I have friends in campgrounds! Mama doesn’t usually let me meet them, but I call to them from afar, and we exchange information in barks and bays. Big dogs, little dogs, fluffy dogs, yappy dogs … campgrounds are full of dogs! This afternoon I went out to meet Mama Cat, whom I’d been barking at from the window. By the time I got out there, she’d gone inside. But her mama, Dolly, is from St. Louis, where Elsi grew up, and they talked a long time. Dolly patted me a lot, so I know she’s a good woman. People are so funny; they never talk about important things. Elsi and Dolly talked about travels, and grandchildren, and Laura Ingalls Wilder (they both visited there last week). But they didn’t talk about the interesting smells in the grass, or the fascinating curl of bark lying on the ground, or the animals in other campsites. Silly people!
Dolphin: We get home tomorrow. I don’t really care which house we live in, the one in Boulder or the one on wheels. I am above caring about such mundane things.
Sallie: I care! I’ll have my yard back! And my neighbor dogs to bark with! And I can run in the yard as much as I want, and lie in the sun! Oh, goodie, ah-whoo!