October 22, 2012

White Dog and Quinn just ignored the pretty little arrangement of mini pumpkins and tiny gourds I had scattered on the coffee table along with some dried colorful leaves. Nuka and Oso didn't even notice but YoYoMa and Puff were both fascinated. I indulged them by letting them sniff the fruits and when they both walked away assumed their curiosity was sated.

I took a quick lunch break and it half registered that something was different in the living room but then the mailman came and changed the focus as the White Dog Army sang. Across the afternoon I noticed YoYoMa was a bit more active in and out than usual but chalked it up to the gorgeous day and the fact that he was trying very hard to avoid a crabby and temperamental Quinn.

Steve stopped home for a quick moment before his late class and noticed right away. "Decided you didn't like the pumpkins there," he asked nodding toward the table. There was only one baby crook necked squash lounging amidst the leaves. The pumpkins were all gone. I surveyed the White Dog Army. "Anyone have a clue as to where the pumpkins are?" No one made eye contact. "I am not going to be happy to find wet gloppy bits of chewed squash and pumpkin on the floor or worse," I said. "Not to mention you ALL know that you are not supposed to take anything off this table!" A more saintly looking group of blessed innocents with big black eyes could not be found anywhere, I am sure.

When Steve came back in a couple of minutes later with Quinn (out for a necessary break), he called me to the patio doors. "Your boy has been decorating for Halloween," he said pointing out into the yard. The pumpkins were lined up next to the barbecue grill, right next to the stuffie Goose, which had been eviscerated. It did look a bit like some of the Halloween decorations we have seen in the neighborhood.

YoYoMa routinely takes his toys out into the yard for chewing exercise so the finger of guilt swung in his direction. Any remaining doubt was erased as he proudly grabbed one of the pumpkins as we spied and carried it back in. We returned to the living room to find it sitting under the coffee table as if it had rolled there and YAWD lying in the doorway feigning sleep.