Riding the Slide

Midge lay awake at the foot of her owner's bed waiting for her to fall asleep. It seemed like a long time before she finally was fast asleep. Midge quietly left the room and went to the kitchen where she pushed her way through the doggie door and walked around the the front porch to wait for Jake. When she approached the porch, she found Booker-T sitting on the bench.

“Hi Booker-T,” smiled Midge. “Are you ready to try and sneak into the park?”

“I saw someone walking around over there at the park,” said Booker-T.

“Are you sure?” asked Midge, quickly turning around to look across the street. “Where was he?”

“He just walked around the back of the park,” said Booker-T. “Maybe he is a guard.”

“Why would they need a guard on the park?” asked Midge. “I don't think anyone could steal those big slides.”

“I don't think they are guarding the slides,” said Booker-T. “I think they are making sure no kids sneak in and end up drowning in the pool.”

“I guess there is water in the pool,” smiled Midge. “Do you think we can sneak in there without the guard seeing us?”

“Hi guys,” greeted Jake as he hurried into the yard to find Booker-T and Midge sitting there waiting on him.

“Hi Jake,” said Midge. “Did you see a guard over there when you walked up?”

“I wasn't looking over there,” said Jake. “Is there a guard over there?”

“Booker-T said he saw one,” said Midge. “You didn't see one?”

“Wait here and I'll walk over there,” said Jake. “It will look strange with the three of us going. I'll be right back.”

Booker-T and Midge watched Jake cross the street and walk to the back of the park. He strolled around the outside of the fence. When he came back around the front of the park, he quickly looked both ways and ran across the street and into the yard.

“Did you see a guard Jake?” asked Midge.

“No,” said Jake. “I didn't see anyone. Maybe it was just someone passing by that Booker-T saw.”

“Maybe,” agreed Booker-T. “Let's go. I want to slide down the big slide.”

“Maybe there isn't any water in the pool yet,” suggested Jake. “We need to check that first when we get inside.”

“This is going to be fun,” smiled Midge. “I am so excited.”

“And you are always into something,” laughed Booker-T as he followed her out of the yard.

They hurried across the street and ran to the back of the park where they had found the spot that they thought would be easy to dig under the fence.

“Hey Midge,” said Booker-T. “Look over there. The gate is opened over there.”

“Why did they leave the gate opened?” asked Midge. “Do you think they left and forgot to close it?”

“Maybe,” said Jake. “Let's go inside and see if they put water in the pool.”

The three carefully entered the park through the opened gate. They stopped and listened when they go inside and all was quiet. They quickly crossed the park to the pool. Midge ran to the edge of the pool.

“The pool is full,” said Midge.

“Come on, let's go to the top of the slide so we can slide down into the pool,” said Jake.

The three carefully climbed the stairs to the top of the slide. They stood at the top staring down into the pool.

“Wow,” said Midge. “This is so high up here.”

“Are you sure you want to slide down the slide into the water?” asked Booker-T.

“Don't you want to slide down?” asked Midge.

“I do,” said Jake. “You want to go first Midge?”

“Yes yes,” smiled Midge. “I am ready.”

She step closer to the top of the slide and was just about to put her feet onto the slide and start down, when the lights suddenly came on in the park. Below the slide at the pool's edge, stood a tall man with a flashlight.

“What are you animals doing in here?” called the man. “Come on down here.”

The three stood at the top looking at each other and then stared at the man. “What do you want to do Jake?”

“He wants us to come down but he didn't say how we are supposed to get down,” said Jake.
“Do you want to go down the slide?” asked Midge.

“Yes,” said Jake. “You go first and Booker-T and I will follow you down.”

“Lets go!” called the man. “You don't belong in here.”

Midge stepped on the slide and sat down. “Here is go guys,” laughed Midge as she started down the slide and splashed into the pool at the bottom of the slide. She swam to the edge of the pool and the man pulled her out of the water. She shook off the excess water and yelled to Jake who now stood at the top of the slide. “Come on down Jake!”

Jake sat on the slide and started his slide down laughing all the way into the water. After splashing into the pool, he swam to the edge where the man grabbed him and yanked him out of the water. He shook off the water and he and Midge looked up to the top and saw Booker-T standing there looking down into the pool.

“Come on Booker-T,” said Midge. “It's okay.”

“It's fun Booker-T,” said Jake.

The man waited for Booker-T to come sliding down into the pool. But he changed his mind and turned and slowly walked down the stairs and joined Midge and Jake at the edge of the pool.

“Why didn't you come down the slide?” asked Jake. “It was fun.”

“It was so high,” said Booker-T. “Lets go home.”

“All right you three,” said the man as he called them to follow him. “Out of the park with you. Stay out.”

“I guess they did have a guard,” said Jake. “I'm glad he didn't get too angry with us.”

“Me too,” said Midge.

“You two are all wet,” said Booker-T. “What is your owners going to think if they see you all wet?”

“They will think it is raining outside,” said Midge. “It's okay.”

“I'm going to hurry home,” said Jake. “I'm tired.”

“Okay,” said Midge. “Good night. I'm going to sneak back in and lay down in the living room chair. I should be dry by morning and she will never know.”

“Good luck,” said Jake. “I'm going to do the same thing when I get back to my house. Good night Midge. Good night Booker-T.”

“Good night Jake,” smiled Midge. “Good night Booker-T.”

“Good night Midge,” said Booker-T as he went through the gate behind Jake. “I'll see you in the morning.”

Midge stood and watched them go before running to the back and entered the house through the doggie door. She curled up in the chair and went to sleep.