I love my Aunt Lynn. Sometimes my family and I go to her house for dinner. Uncle Billy is nice too but Aunt Lynn lets me lick her as much as I want. They have a fenced yard so all I have to do when I want to go out is sit by the kitchen door and wait and Aunt Lynn will let me out and back in as much as I want. She's the best Aunt a dog could have.

Summer 1996

It was one such day at Aunt Lynn's house, a beautiful sunny summer day. She was busy cooking dinner in the kitchen as usual. I was in the backyard with Mom, Dad, Brian (my cousin), and Uncle Billy having a ball. Brian was playing basketball soccer with me, which is one of my favorite games, and I was being careful not to step on Uncle Billy's bushes when I ran to get the ball 'cause I know that he really likes his bushes.

A Squeaky Noise

Anyway, I was in the bushes looking for my basketball when I heard a squeaky noise. I didn't remember bringing a squeaky toy outside but I thought maybe I left one the last time we were here. Curiously I sniffed and poked my nose around until I found my squeaky. As I pounced excitedly on my toy trying to feel which one I had found, it suddenly stopped squeaking. The next thing I remember is Dad yelling for me to come and Mom asking me alot of questions and everyone whispering and acting weird. I finally figured out what was going on. I know I'm exceptionally smart, but I am a dog. How am I expected to tell the difference between a squeaky toy and a baby bird when I'm all excited like that. Gee!

Dinnertime -- saved by the bell!

Aunt Lynn called us in for dinner and I quickly ate, trying to forget about what had happened. Then I found a comfy spot next to the table while the family ate, content that everyone was settled safely in one room. I was enjoying the constant sound of voices and laughter until I heard the word 'bird'. My ear stood up. Aunt Lynn was telling everyone about the family of Mockingbirds that were living in the tree outside the den. She said it was so cute how the mother bird sits atop their fence and watches over her baby who plays in their bushes. She went on to say that she hoped the baby bird wouldn't get killed by the neighborhood cats. Uncle Billy, Mom, Dad, Brian and I all looked at each other at the same time knowing that we couldn't tell Aunt Lynn what had just happened in the backyard. We just couldn't.