August 18, 2013
The Adventures of Dog and Table
Chapter Two
The next day was really different. Even though everything looked exactly the same, it wasn’t. Dog looked like he was sleeping but inside he was quivering with excitement. “Off to the Bay” “Off to the Bay” Off to the Bay” he kept singing to himself. Table just sat there in the kitchen with Family all around it. Sneaker was thinking “Finally I’ll get to feel the good marsh mud again.” Boot was thinking “If the tide is right we might be able to catch a bass”. Flip Flop was still dreaming of seeing the world and Stiletto thought “How did I get myself into this; going for a hike on a muddy old salt marsh.”
When Family all went to bed that night, Table and Dog were out the door. Sneaker, Boot and Flipflop stomped through the marsh grass to the bay, while Stiletto threw a stick for Dog. The tide had been really high that day and the marsh was muddy but Sneaker, Boot and Flipflop didn’t care. They were free and having adventures. Stiletto didn’t like the splitsplats of mud that landed on her. But what could she say, it had been her idea to go on adventures together.
When they got to the bay, it was low tide. The moon shone on the mauve mudflats and glistened in the tidal pools. Table and Dog sat on the shore and watched. Boot could see that the tide was coming in. In another four hours, they could try to catch a bass. Sneaker and Flipflop played a game of catch with the stick. Dog was in the middle. He didn’t mind being teased. Stiletto was just savouring the view and the colours and the beauty. ‘Maybe I’ll take up painting” she thought.
When the water reach the gravel bar, everyone washed off in the bay.
It felt wonderful. Just as good as last night. Then table flipped over. The four friends paddled gently. Dog looked like a figurehead on a ship as he sniffed the ocean air.
The Four Friends were discussing what they could use for bass bait.
Suddenly, Dog saw a little fish swim by and he knew what he could do to help. He leapt off Table into the bay, Then he dove down and caught the little fish in his mouth. All the legs laughed and cheered.
“Our Dog is amazing.” they chanted.
Boot had found some old fishing line with a hook on the shore. He baited up and cast his line. At first there were just a few little nibbles.
Suddenly there was huge yank and table started moving though the water out to the middle of the bay. “Let go, let go of the line.” shouted Sneaker. “We’ll never get back” cried Flip Flop. Stiletto was just enjoying herself. She was a lot braver than she had thought she was.
Boot was trying to untie the line from his leg but the knot was yanked tighter and tighter and Table was flying over the water. Out in front was a Whale. Whale swam as fast he could but that only made Table go faster.
Whale knew what to do. He took a big breath and then dove for the bottom. Luckily, Boot, FlipFlop, Sneaker, and Stiletto had all taken big breaths too. Dog was paddling on the surface. He couldn’t see his Table. “Where did they go?” he thought. Then he looked down into the water and saw his friends. Dog swam down until he got near Table. He grabbed the line in his mouth and chewed and chewed until it broke. Whale kept going, He was free at last. Table floated to the surface. Boot was shaking, he’d been so scared. Sneaker was exhausted from trying so hard to help Boot get the line off. Flipflop was happy to have had some excitement. And Stiletto just beamed at Dog. “Our hero,” she said. “You saved the day.”
March 16, 2013
The Adventure of Table and Dog
In the daytime, when the people were up, it looked like a very ordinary wooden table. It was a bit battered, and maybe a little bit old fashioned. Usually, Dog, hovered close by hoping that somebody would drop a bit of food.
At night, when all the people were asleep, Table was not a bit ordinary. In fact, Table was totally extraordinary.
Every night, Table sprouted feet, four very different feet and all four had a mind of their own. Rubber Boot always wanted to go fishing. Flipflop wanted to see the world, and Hiking Sneaker wanted to take Dog on a walk to the bay. Stiletto was the only one that was happy. She didn’t want to go anywhere. She just liked to pose and look beautiful. But she did wish that the others would stop pulling and fidgeting.
Night after night, year after year, the four feet pulled in four different directions. They never got anywhere and they constantly complained to each other. Eventually they just stopped pulling and talking.
One night, Stiletto decided to talk to the others again. “I am finding it so boring and quiet all alone. I can’t travel the world or stomp down to the bay or up into the hills to fish, but if you three will carry me, I’ll go along on your adventures. I can pose and look beautiful anywhere and I do like to see new things”.
The other three legs suddenly came to life and nodded in agreement. Now, we are getting somewhere they thought. Sneaker and Boot winked to each other. One of them liked the salt water bay and the other enjoyed a fresh water lake filled with fish, but essentially they both just liked to be out of doors. All four of them loved Dog.
“What is it that you like about travelling the world?” Boot asked Flipflop.
“I love to see new things and to have adventures.” Flipflop replied.
“Well” said Sneaker “If we promise that you’ll see new things and have adventures, will you come along with us? If the footing is too rough in places, you can even rest with Stiletto and Boot and I will carry you.”
Flipflop thought for a moment. She really did prefer seeing new countries but she was getting very bored just standing in the kitchen.
“Okay” she said. “But remember you promised me adventure.”
In the blink of an eye, Table was out the door and heading up the road. The moon was full. The stars were bright. All four feet were quivering with excitement. Stiletto posed and preened while being carried along. The other three strutted for miles. Dog happily bounded along side. When they came to a steep uphill path, Flipflop was happy to have a nap and let Boot and Sneaker climb up and up.
At the top of the mountain was a beautiful mirror-like lake. Everyone was dusty and tired and they all agreed to wade into the lake to cool off. Even Stiletto forgot about being perfect and teased the others by kicking water at them. When they were tired of playing, they flipped the table over and floated gently out onto the lake. Dog loved being the captain of the ship. They were all having such a good time, that they didn’t notice the current that was moving them towards a little waterfall and rapids.
Suddenly the table plunged over the edge and down the falls.
“Wheeeeee!” squeeled Flipflop. “This is a wonderful adventure!”
“My, my,” shouted Stiletto. “I never thought that I would go white water rafting! This is wonderful.”
Sneaker and Boot weren’t quite as happy. They were too busy looking out for big rocks and obstacles like fallen trees. When they were in danger, they would shove their feet out to keep the table from getting hurt.
Dog just hung on for dear life.
At the end of the ride, Boot and Sneaker were ecstatic. It had been a terrific adventure for everyone. Even Dog had loved it. In the early morning, before Boot, Sneaker, Flipflop and Stiletto returned to sleep as perfectly ordinary table legs, they planned the next night’s adventure. They agreed that tomorrow night would be an adventure to the bay. After that, maybe the world.