prison break, by biscuit

not that this yard is particularly prison-like. it more often than not resembles the thick rainforests up north or the grassy savannahs in africa I've heard tell about (occasionally, I run free across much less grass; this happens after a noisy, nasty vehicle trumbles through the place ahead of that big, tall guy who lifts the little one over his head and appears to bring the clouds to rest around us with his smog sticks). today, without any machine to shorten the grass or lifter thing to clean the place up, it is in fact like living amongst landmines in a country at war. my own fault, of course, and bella's too. but it was a nice, warm, sunny day after that bit of rain and a great day to explore. so, though I'm only a little dog and the yard is quite expansive in comparison, I thought there might be adventures to be had on the other side of the wall. luckily, I had discovered a small space just the other day, in the back corner of the fence, where the mice have been getting in. I know because I was there. and the last mousy perished at my hands. paws. oh yes, quite a feat of unimaginable strenth and fine dexterity. you wouldn't think it to look at me. I am, after all, only a little dog. little enough, in fact, to fit through (only just) the small space. I had to squirm a bit and I had to focus, with belle in my ear about getting grubby and lost and making everyone sick with worry if I didn't come back right now this instant! I could also hear the other tall one, who's around all the time, calling out to me. did she see me? she must have seen me make the bolt and squeeze through! but I was too quick for her and well out of sight in an instant. she kept calling, though. persistant, I'll give her that. I scurried along the neighbour's back fence, under the cover of some creeping, winding vines and weeds, and didn't get far before.....that guy from next door scooped me up and started heading inside HIS prison yard! he must have heard her calling and calling my name and he looked down the back fence just in time to spot me before I got down to the place where we stop on the way back from a walk and blah blah blah with the kids in the driveways opposite each other (don't those neighbours have prison yards of their own?) so he brought me to the gate, which is so familiar from the INSIDE and passed me back to her. she had been just about to leap the fence, barefoot, to find me. she had just started to REALLY worry (what's REALLY worry? and when does it start? and when does it end?) because I am, after all, only a little dog. and I'm the little one's dog. she would have been very sad to notice that I had gone. belle and I go to the door each morning just especially to say, "hi!" and we run around her little feet. and we give her kisses on her hands and cheeks. and I've just gotten the hang of jumping up into the hammock in one leap! clever, aren't I? only a little dog, too!

maybe I'll stay. I'll stay for now, in this night prison. I thought belle and I were just sleeping in here. when it's cold. and dark. and after dinner. does this mean I don't get my dinner? hey, there's my lead! and here's my bed! bella! bella? bellaaaaaaaa! jump up at that window again, where I can see you! do I have to stay in here in the day now? I'm not sleepy! I wanna play! get me outta here! hey, belle! no more exploring, okay? promise I'll be good. I promise. I'll just have a little nap then. 'cause here's my bed. my little bed. I promise, you know? okay. just a little nap for a little dog on my little bed...