A Boy and His Dog (And Mom)

Messing Around

"Come on Splash, come on girl!" Billy exclaimed, running away from Splash, who was currently chasing him around the backyard.

Billy's mother, Susan, just smiled and took a sip of her juice as she watched her child play with his best friend. They've been at it for about an hour now, and neither of them had become tired of the current game they were playing, yet. Splash sure was an energetic puppy, perfect companion for her just as restless son.

Over at the corner of a fence, Billy crouches down, covering his face with both of his hands. Splash was looking around, sniffing everything from the picnic blanket to the tree Billy likes to climb sometimes.

"Hey Billy," Susan called out to him. "What ya doing over there?" The little boy uncovered his face and lifted a finger to his lips. Pointing to Splash, he made some signs that looked like he was searching for something with binoculars, running around (in place, he stayed put in his corner), and then put his finger to his lip again.

"You want Splash to find you?" His mother asked, raising an eyebrow. She chuckles softly when Billy nods his head and covers his face again.

"Hm, alright. Hey Splash," The puppy's attention was now on her. "Can you find Billy?" The dog trotted around, sniffing the ground so intensely that she sneezed, and it shook her entire body. Billy in his corner, where he was supposedly hiding, started to giggle.

Splash's ears perked up, and her tail started to wag happily. Running up into the corner where Billy was crouched, Splash jumped onto him, and Billy was pushed back against the fence. He squealed, and Splash began running laps around the edges of the fence.

Mrs. Showalter laughed and got off of the rocking chair to walk over to Billy. "Are you ok?" She asked, smiling. Billy grinned and nodded his head so roughly he had a slight pounding in it afterwards.

"Why don't you try to catch her?" Susan suggested. Billy got up and went in front of the resting dog. It seems as though the running finally tired her out a bit. She gets up when Billy lowers himself and leaves his arms open wide by his side.

Right now, he's looking like a cowboy that's about to have a showdown in those cartoons. Splash gets into a crouching position, slowly stalking towards Billy. The boy begins to giggle again, and when Susan asks, "Where's Billy? Can you find him?" Splash pounces onto him, knocking him backwards, but he doesn't fall.

He laughs and Splash runs off again. Susan can't help but giggle.

Billy lays down on the ground on his stomach, and Splash stays near his legs.

"Alright Splash, last time. Can you find Billy?" The puppy tilted her head. "Come on, find him!"

Splash sniffed Billy's legs, back and head.

The boy just laughed, and Splash put her head in between Billy's arm.

While getting his face licked, Billy puts his arms around his dog, pulling her into a hug. The puppy calms down and lays on the grass next to him.

"Alright you guys, both of you are going to have to take a shower." Susan said, picking up the cups from the table.

Billy just gave a thumbs up and stretches.

"Come on, let's go inside." Susan opened the door and stood there, waiting for her son and his puppy.