What Thomas Saw

Picnicking in Style

Being a mellow type of guy, Thomas found going on a picnic with wife Penny was pure hell. Penny planned the details right down to salt and pepper, while Thomas would have been quite content with Kentucky Fried and extra coleslaw.

So it was then that Thomas stated in a firm voice to Penny, "I will go for a walk now, just to let the air clear and you to prepare the spread." 

Penny just waved him away and Thomas took off at a fast two-step. Free, free at last! Thank God... 

Go, Bob! Go!

When he stopped jogging, Thomas settled down on a grassy hill.  Below, in a field, Thomas recognized one of God's gifts on a dull picnic day.

There, some guy opened a side door and two dogs leaped, really leaped out.  

The Guy took out a tennis ball and boy, oh boy, those dogs jumped and bounced.  Big strong black lab leaped up nearly five feet, no kidding. "Here you go, Bob!" And Bob's muscled hind quarters then propelled him about eight feet ahead as he raced after it.

Meanwhile, a black and white border collie watched The Guy with soulful brown eyes, please oh please...The Guy clicked, "Go getter, Jimbo!" And Jimbo took off like a bullet.

By that time, Thomas saw that Bob had already grabbed the ball with big teeth and was on his way back, tail swishing in the wind. Jimbo paused in his sprint, and trotted back to The Guy. Bob lifted his nose. See, Jimbo. In your face.

The Guy hit the ball and sent it whizzing out. Bob and his hind legs took off with all those muscles hurling him out.  Jimbo trotted out about half-way and crouched down.  Watching Bob's dance of victory, Jimbo's eyes followed him speculatively.

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Thomas leaned forward in anticipation, sensing there were politics at play here.

The Guy gave that ball all his youthful training had taught him.  Bob took off, ears flapping.  Jimbo trotted out midway, crouched down, watching Bob. This went on two or three times.

Oh boy, Bob, you're in for it now, Thomas chuckled. 

The Guy hit it again, and Bob took a flying leap, but by this time, Jimbo had the ball and was dancing back before Bob even reached the end of the field. A very confused black lab ran back and Jimbo headed out to rest, again.

The Guy hit the ball, Bob took off and Jimbo came back with the ball. Again and again, Bob gave it all his black lab muscles had, while Jimbo merely danced back.

Thomas counted, Come'on Bob! Get a clue."

At the fourth throw, The Guy hit that ball and Bob merely watched as Jimbo sauntered from his midway post, retrieved the ball, and scampered back. And then another hit, another Jimbo win.  By then, Bob lay down, eyes closed.

The Guy whistled and walked to the car. Both dogs slowly trudged back, with Jimbo jumping up into the car. The Guy gave Bob an extra boost. Off they drove. Defeat and victory.

Thomas smiled and heaved himself up, promptly twisting his ankle.  Well, that's a heck of a thing." 

By the time Thomas hobbled back to Penny's picnic hell, friends had shown up and showered him with sympathy. Penny's eyes sliced and diced him, not saying a word.  

From his perch with his foot elevated and wrapped in ice, Thomas watched from the sides, watching his wife speculatively. She was in her element, the queen of the feast. Thomas was in his, a Jimbo at heart.

P.S. I saw this at a park and was enthralled. I'd have a border collie any time. My dad had one, Cindy, after his children workforce grew up. I swear Dad and Cindy could have handled the livestock by themselves. Smart dogs. Our family had a black/chocolate lab, Buddy. Strong dog, good with our kids.  Whenever he came running at me, I braced.

Rain on the Table

The rain began to mist...

Marianne and Jody skipped to the table ahead of their mommy.  “We got here first!  We win, Mommy!”  Still holding hands, they climbed onto the table top and danced, their joined hands lifted up to the clear blue sky.

“Get down, girls!  Come help me with the picnic basket,” Laura Marshall groaned as she struggled with the heavy basket in one hand and the blanket in the other.  “Quickly!  I can’t carry this much farther!”

The girls jumped to the bench and then onto the grass.  “Let me get the basket…No, you carry the blanket this time…No!  You got to…” 

“Girls!  Please!”  Laura reprimanded them, setting the heavy load onto the table just as her strength gave out.  Silently, Marianne and Jody glared at each other.  Shrugging, they reached out to help Mommy unpack the sandwiches, the homemade potato salad, and apples.  With each item, they giggled.  A picnic!  They had not come here to this park in so long, not since Daddy went away on that trip.  And, to this table, too. 

Between bites, Laura told the girls about the table, how she and their daddy had their first date at this very table.  “Your daddy sat there, Jody, and I…”  Laura paused for a moment.  “I sat over where you are, Marianne.”

“What happened next, Mommy?  What did Daddy say?”  The girls knew this story by heart, word for word.  They knew how Daddy had reached across the table and held Mommy’s hand.  They knew how she giggled.

 Laura thought for a moment, and in a distant voice continued.  “The rain began to mist through the trees, and soon it was really raining.  We ran to the car, and laughed as we got soaked.” The girls nodded, as Laura’s face took on a softness that appeared when she talked about Daddy.

When every crumb that could be eaten was gone, the blanket was placed out on the sun-warmed grass.  The girls sprawled on it, spreading their arms wide, and gazing through the tree branches. Filled with Mommy’s memories and food, they felt like they could reach out and hold their father.   

 They could see the rain, the wet table, and the dripping branches.  Daddy had been here once.  Maybe, someday Daddy would come back from Heaven and have a picnic with them.  

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