Sandcastles

“Hey Midge!” called Jake as he came through the gate at Midge's house. “Where are you?”

“Over here Jake!” said Midge from Booker-T's yard. “I came over here to find Booker-T.”

“Where is he?” asked Jake.

“He's coming,” said Midge. “He was sleeping and I woke him up.”

“Hi Jake,” said Booker-T as he came around the house from the back yard and caught up with Midge as she went through the gate.

“Lets go in and see Snappy before we go to the park,” said Jake. “I want to go say hello.”

The three went to the back of the house and entered the kitchen through the doggie door. They hurried into the living room where Snappy's tank was.

“Hey you guys,” smiled Snappy. “It's good to see you.”

“Hi Snappy,” said Booker-T and Jake as they neared the tank.

“What are you all doing this morning?” asked Snappy.

“We are going to the park,” said Jake.

“Are you going swimming in the pond?” asked Snappy.

“Yes,” said Booker-T. “It is warm outside so think a swim would be nice today.”

“Won't be long now,” said Midge. “And winter will be here and it will be too cold to swim.”

The four friends talked a while and then the three told Snappy good-bye and left for the park. They walked along the sidewalk.

“Hey Jake, said Midge as they walked through the school yard. “What is that over there?”

“It looks like a big tire,” said Booker-T looking toward the swings.

“That is a truck tire,” said Jake. “Maybe a truck lost it.”

“Lets go see,” said Midge.

They walked to where the tire was laying in the yard next to the swings. “Wow, look,” said Booker-T. “there is sand in the middle of that tire.”

“They made the tire into a sandbox,” smiled Jake. “That's pretty cool.”

“Kids like to play in sand,” said Booker-T.

“My owner's sister had one in her back yard for her little boy,” said Midge. “I forgot about it til now.”

“Jump in Booker-T,” smiled Jake.

“Why?” asked Booker-T.

“Don't you like sand?” asked Jake.

Booker-T stepped into the sand and rolled on his back. “This is nice.”

“I think they have sand at the lake,” said Midge. “But the lake is too far from here. All we got is he pond.”

“That truck tire makes a good sandbox,” said Jake. “I bet the kids like it.”

“I think so,” said Midge.

“Jump in Midge,” laughed Booker-T. “The sand feels little soft under your feet.”

“It's easy to dig a hole in it too,” said Midge as she stood in the middle of the sand. “This is nice.”

“It would be a good place to bury a bone,” said Jake.

“No,” said Midge.

“Why?” asked Jake. “Don't you think it would be a good place?”

“Sure,” said Midge. “It would be easy to dig a hole and bury your bones, but not here.”

“Oh right,” said Jake. “I forgot. The kids would dig in it and find my bones.”

“Do you know how to build a sand castle?' asked Booker-T.

“A sand castle?” asked Midge. “How would we build a sand castle?”

“We don't have hands Booker-T,” said Jake. “Did you forget?”

“I guess with all the ideas that Midge has, she might have one for building sand castles,” laughed Booker-T.

“I might think of something if I think long enough,” said Midge.

“This one,” said Jake. “Don't think you can do it.”

“I guess not,” sighed Midge. “You know how I hate to give up.”

“I know,” agreed Jake. “But this is one time, you have to be satisfied with not being able to do something.”

“But that is okay Midge,” said Booker-T. “We still love you.”

“What are you guys talking about?” asked Gabby as he swooped down and landed on the top of the swing set.

“Hi Gabby,” greeted Midge.

“You look like you are having fun in the sand,” smiled Gabby.

“It is nice,” said Midge. “They were asking me if I could build a sand castle.”

“Wow,” said Gabby. “Can you build one?”

Midge looked down at her feet and back up at Gabby.

“What's wrong?” asked Gabby.

“These are feet,” said Midge holding one up and then putting it down and lifting the other front foot.

“I know,” said Gabby. “You got four of them. I only have two.”

Booker-T and Jake were sitting there listening and laughing at the two of them.

“What is so funny?” asked Midge.

“You and Gabby,” said Jake.

“Gabby, do you see hands on the end of my legs?” asked Midge.

“No,” said Gabby. “Only feet.”

“Right,” said Midge. “And with only four feet and no hands, how do you think I can build a sand castle?”

“oh, right,” said Gabby. “Guess I didn't think about that one. You always find a way to do things we didn't think you could.”

“I know I'm smart,” snickered Midge. “But this time, I don't think I can figure out a way to do it. I would need help.”

“We can help you,” said Booker-T.

“I need someone with hands,” smiled Midge. “You have the same problem as I do. No hands, only feet.”

“We have four feet and a mouth,” said Jake. “

“Lets go to the park and I will think about it and maybe I can think of something,” said Midge.

“That's the Midge we know,” laughed Gabby. “Never gives up on on anything.”

“Sometimes you have to change your way of thinking and do something else,” said Midge. “so I'm going to think about it.”

“Okay,” said Jake. “Now lets go for a short swim.”

They all agreed that a swim would be good and hurried along the sidewalk to the park.