The Wet Cement

 “Hey Look!” said Jake. “Here comes a little tractor.”

“A tractor?” asked Booker-T. “What are they going to do with the tractor?”

“I don't know,” said Midge.

The three watched as a man drove the little tractor to the back yard and stopped in front of the hole. Then the tractor lowered what look like an upside down tub with teeth.

“It looks like a monster,” said Booker-T.

“Oh,” said Midge. “He's digging the hole little deeper with that tractor. Wow, that's cool. That tractor digs holes better than we do.”

As the hole got deeper and wider, the pile of dirt grew bigger and bigger. When the man finished digging the hole and drove the tractor back to the front, Jake ran up the dirt hill and stood on the top.

“Look guys,” Laughed Jake. “I'm king of the hill.”

“Look out!” shouted Midge as Jake suddenly slid down the hill backwards and landed at the bottom of the hill on his back.

“Are you alright?” asked Booker-T as he ran to the other side of the hill to check on Jake.

“What happened?” asked Midge. “You were standing up at the top of the hill and the next thing I knew, you were gone.”

“The dirt was loose and my foot slipped when I stepped back a little,” said Jake standing up. “I'm okay. But that was fun sliding down the hill. Want to try?”

“Sure,” said Midge as she ran up the hill.

“Come on!” shouted Booker-T. “Slide down.”

Midge leaped off the top and hit the side of the hill and slid down on her bottom side.

“Ouch!” said Midge. “I think I hit a rock in the dirt with my bottom.”

“Are you okay?” asked Booker-T walking around Midge and checking her backside.

“It is okay,” said Midge. “But that rock was hard. Be careful if you slide down so you don't hit any rocks.

“Where did the rock come from?” asked Jake.

“I don't know,” said Midge. “Maybe there are rocks in the ground.”

“Look over there,” said Booker-T. “What is that thing? Fat tub going round and round.”

“I'm not sure,” said Midge. “What is it Jake?”

“I think they call that thing a cement mixer,” said Jake. “Some man was using one at the neighbor's house one time. There is concrete inside.”

“What is it going round and round?” asked Midge.

“I think it is mixing up the concrete,” said Jake. “Or maybe it just keeps it wet.”

The three climbed to the top of the dirt pile and sat down to watch the men working. The sound of and electric saw filled the air. Then bang bang bang went the hammer as the men nailed board together around the big hole.

“What are they going to do with that wood?” asked Booker -T. “Is our pond going to be made of wood?”

“I don't think so,” said Jake. “But maybe it is. Maybe a wood pond is better.”

“If the pond is going to be wood,” said Midge. “What are they going to do with the concrete in that tub going round and round?”

“Maybe there is something else in that tub,” suggested Booker-T.

“Maybe,” agreed Midge.

“Oh,” said Jake as the men started to pour what was in the tub around the wood in the hole. “Now I see what they are doing.”

“What?” asked Midge.

“They made a frame out of the wood and pouring in the concrete,” said Jake. “The wood is going to hold the concrete so it can get hard.”

“That's neat,” smiled Booker-T.

They watched as the men wheeled the spinning tub out of the back yard. “Hurry,” said Jake. “Lets go put our paw prints into the wet cement.”

“Won't they get angry if we mess up the cement?” asked Midge.

“I think they are done for the day,” said Jake. “When they come back, the cement will be dry and out little paw prints will be in it.”

“Why do we want to put our paw print in the cement?” asked Booker-T.

“It's fun,” laughed Jake. “Come on.”

They ran down the hill and walked over to the pond. “Stick you foot on the cement,” said Jake as he put his foot on the wet cement. “Do it like this.”

“Okay,” said Midge as she placed her foot on the wet cement next to Jake's paw print. “Your turn Booker-T.”

“Just do it carefully,” said Jake. “It will be okay.”

Booker-T slowly lifted his foot and placed it lightly on top of the cement. When he lifted his foot, there was his paw print in the wet cement. “Wow,” said Booker-T. “You will have my paw print forever in your pond, Midge.”

“And mine and Jake's too,” smiled Midge.

“When will they put the water in?” asked Booker-T.

“I don't know,” said Midge.

“After the cement is dry,” said Jake. “They can't put water in it when the cement is wet.”

“How long will it take to dry?” asked Booker-T.

“I don't think it takes too long,” said Jake. “Maybe tomorrow it will be dry and they will put the water in it.”

“Did everyone go?” asked Midge

“I don't know,” said Jake. “I'll go see.”

“I think they are gone,” said Midge.

In a couple minutes, Jake returned from the front yard. “They all left in the trucks,” said Jake.

“Why did they leave?” asked Midge. “I don't think they finished our pond.”

“They can't do anything til the cement dries,” said Jake.

“Do you think it will be dry tomorrow?” asked Booker-T.

“Maybe,” said Jake.

“What do you want to do now?” asked Midge.

“We could sit and watch the cement dry,” said Booker-T.

“That don't sound like too much fun,” said Jake. “Lets go for a walk around the block.”

“Do you want to go to the park?” asked Midge.

“No,” said Jake. “I think it is too late to go to the park. Lets just take a short walk.”

“Okay,” said Midge. “Maybe the cement will be dry when we get back.”

“I don't think it will be dry until tomorrow,” said Jake as the three started to go for their short walk.

“Maybe we should go to sleep so when we wake up it will be tomorrow,” said Booker-T.

“It is too early to go to sleep now,” said Jake. “We can take a nap but when we wake up it will still be today.”

“Lets go for the walk and then take a nap,” said Midge.

The three agreed to go for a walk and then lay down for short nap.