Yellow Rectangles - What Are They and Where Are the Kids?

Mommy and I were walking this morning and the strangest thing happened. A big yellow rectangle on wheels rode onto our street. It stopped at the corner, right in front of a bunch of big kids. The rectangle had lots of windows and and two doors, one on the side and one on the back. The side door opened and I could see three steps and at the top of the steps I could see a person sitting behind the same kind of wheel Mommy sits behind in our car.

Suddenly, the kids ran up the steps and it seemed like they disappeared, but when the rectangle rode away I could see their faces at the windows. I have never seen anything like that! What was that rectangle and what happened to all of those children?

After the rectangle drove off with the kids, Mommy and I continued on our walk. When we got to the next corner, the same thing happened only this time the kids were little and their parents were with them. A yellow rectangle on wheels drove up and stopped in front of the little kids. I still didn't know what the yellow rectangles were but I knew they were not dangerous because the parents helped their little children go up the steps. The parents came out and that rectangle left.

I was so confused that I started talking to myself. "What in the world is going on around here. What are those rectangles? Why do I only see yellow rectangles on wheels? Will I see yellow circles on wheels next?" Talking to myself helps me sort things out, but I usually don't have the information to answer myself.

I can't speak English and I sometimes get so frustrated trying to talk to Mommy. This was one of those times. I communicate by barking, kissing, wagging my tail, and drooling. How in the world could I make my barks, kisses,wags, and drool say, "Mommy, what was that yellow rectangle on wheels and why did children go inside and disappear?" After the second rectangle left, Mommy started walking. I didn't. Mommy looked at me and said, "Ethel Frances, heel." That meant I was supposed to stand up next to Mommy's left leg and walk next to her. I knew what it meant, but I didn't do it.

Mommy looked surprised. "Ethel Frances, heel!" Mommy said that a few more times. Each time, her voice got louder, but I wouldn't budge. Mommy squatted next to me and looked in my eyes. "OK, Ethel Frances. I know you know what 'Heel' means so why aren't you doing it?" Now I had two questions: what was that yellow rectangle and how was I going to ask Mommy my questions. Sometimes life is so complicated.

While I was sitting and not heeling, a strange thing happened. A big smile appeared on Mommy's face. She clapped her hands, jumped up, and exclaimed: "Ah ha! Ethel Frances, you want to know what happened with those kids, don't you?" Then a bigger smile appeared on my face and I jumped up and gave Mommy a big kiss! My mommy understands me and we can communicate even though we don't speak the same language. I kissed her again so she would know that she understood me.

"OK, Ethel Frances, I am going to tell you. Remember when you went to school? Al was your teacher and we met Bentley and his mom there. Remember? You had to get in the car and I drove you to school in our car. Well, human kids have to go to school and there are too many of them to fit in a car. The schools have school buses, see." Mommy was pointing at the street. I followed Mommy's finger and saw that she was pointing to a yellow rectangle driving by. "There goes one now! The bus driver goes to all of the neighborhoods, stops to let the kids get in, and drives them all to school. When school is over later in the day, the bus goes to the school, stops to let the kids get in, and drives them home. That's all there is to it. Now can we finish with our walk?"

I wagged my tail extra fast so Mommy would know that I understood. I am so happy I can go to Mommy with my questions. She always makes time to listen and to help me get answers. I bet if she spoke dog language she would be wagging her tail extra fast too!

Good Help is Hard to Find

I wonder what happened to Mommy. She was always so helpful to me with my stories and now it has been months since she has done anything. I have so much to say but I haven't figured out how to use a keyboard to tell my stories and I am frustrated because Mommy is the only one I know who understands Dog Language. Without her, my keyboard is silent.

It all started when Mommy asked Izzy if she wanted to go bye-bye. Out the door they went, but Mommy came back alone. She said she took Izzy to the farm. She usually takes LuLu and me to the farm without Izzy so I was confused.

The next day Mommy came home from work, took us outside and back in real fast, fed us, took us out again and then started running around the house picking up our things and putting them in a bag. She picked up our water dish and food bowls, our toys, and even my bed. LuLu doesn't have a bed because she sleeps on the sofa.

She grabbed us and all of our things and asked us if we wanted to go bye-bye. I love going in the car, but LuLu doesn't. She didn't have a choice. Mommy dragged her and shoved her in the back seat with me and off we went. Mommy parked the car and I looked around and realized we were someplace LuLu and I had never been.

Mommy got us and our things and we were walking up to a strange house. I didn't have a chance to get nervous because the door opened and out walked Frid, Mommy's best friend. Frid loves us and we love her. Mommy said, "Here we are at Frid's house!" We went in and LuLu and I ran all over the house, looking in every room. It is a very nice house. Or it was until Mommy kissed us good-bye, told us to be good girls, and left. She left Frid's house and she left us in it.

I was sad and confused and I even cried. LuLu was scared out of her mind. I thought Mommy would be right back but she was gone a very long time. One night when Frid was walking me, I saw another dog. I got so excited and I started running as fast as I could, without realizing that Frid was holding my leash. I pulled hard and when I broke loose, Frid fell down. I didn't mean to hurt her, but I did. A stranger came and got me and put me in Frid's house and then an ambulance came. Frid had a broken arm, shoulder, and collar bone! I felt bad about it, but when Mommy found out about it, she felt worse!

Frid left in the ambulance and a little while later, Aunt Paula and Uncle Greg came in Frid's house. What in the world was going on? They gathered up all of our things and took us to their car and said we were going home. I didn't believe it until we got there.

LuLu and I ran to our front door, so happy to be home. Aunt Paula opened the door and there was Mommy on the sofa. "Girls! You're home! Come here so I can kiss you." LuLu and I looked at each other and at the same time we ran past Mommy and ran upstairs without giving Mommy a chance to even touch us.

We had a talk upstairs because Mommy taught us that we should talk about our problems and our feelings. We didn't have a problem now that we were home but we did have feelings. We were angry at Mommy for leaving us at Frid's even though Frid loves us and took very good care of us. We decided to stay upstairs until we knew for sure that we would be staying home.

The next morning, we woke up and we were so happy to be in our home that we forgot about being angry. We ran downstairs barking and laughing and we got in Mommy's face and gave her about a million kisses. "Girls! You aren't angry anymore! I am so glad. I love you so much and I missed you so much while you were at Frid's. I was in the hospital so the doctor could fix my back. I couldn't take care of you until my back was better and until I was strong enough. Remember? I told you all of this before you went to Frid's. Frid was wonderful to keep you so you wouldn't have to go to the farm and so you two could be together. Then Frid got hurt and she couldn't take care of you so I got you back a little earlier than expected.

Now you are home and I am better and Frid is almost better. I sure did miss you!"

A few days later, Jacob came to our home and he had Izzy! Even though Izzy is annoying and naughty, we all missed her and were happy to have her home with us.

Last night Mommy called me. "Ethel Frances, come here honey." I went to Mommy and sat in front of her. "Ethel Frances, now that I am feeling better I can help you with your blogs again. Do you want me to help you with a new post?"

If you have read this new post to the end, you know the answer to Mommy's question. I hope you are as happy as I am that I can tell my stories again.