Michael felt the drippy, coarse snout of the golden retriever on his neck and closed his eyes, fighting the urge to swing his pail at the creature’s face. Its breath was horrible and he imagined “Barnaby” had eaten every scrap of hotdog on the pier. He could smell the half-digested remains with each frothy pant, triggering a nausea beyond belief.
Its caretaker was the poster child for the Participation Awards, 11-year-old Anthony, who reveled in the attention Barnaby brought him. Desperate for escape, Michael grasped a hefty piece of driftwood and, with a smirk, flung it towards the lapping waves, thanking his father’s football player DNA.
“Go get it, boy!”
It was an impressive throw for a nine-year-old, splashing 100 feet into the tide. Overpowered by its instincts, the dog took off.
“You threw it in the water!” Anthony yelled, chasing after it.
“I didn’t think it’d go that far!” said Michael innocently, his sarcasm evident even to the dim-witted. But it bought him the time he needed to finish the towers. They’d house the prince’s archers. The only defense against the mer-warriors, so fast they could vault from the water over the tower walls. They’d come with the tide—
“He got it!”
You’ve got to be kidding me! The two ran towards him, triumphant as Barnaby stomped across a completed pulpit and dropped the wet stick on the bedchamber of Lady Rose and her illicit love, Captain Hephecles.
I just finished that!
Anthony gave the animal repeat kisses then turned to Michael. “You won’t even pet him? You’re an asshole!”
I’m the asshole?!
A fountain of curse words queued themselves in Michael’s head, ready to be released—it was worth a soapy mouth to put this inbred animal trainer in his place—but, seeing the parents approach, he changed tack. He petted the creature with all the false enthusiasm he could muster. It didn’t acknowledge his duplicity. He respected it for that.
Anthony yanked its leash and called, “Mom! Dad! You won’t believe what Barnaby’s just did!”
Michael sighed, relieved. That story will be stretched to ten minutes. Enough time to rebuild the ramparts and get ready for the mermen attack!