Theodore Frank The Finest Dog Around

The trip back to Florida was going to be different then the the one coming to the lake. Bubba loaded a big truck with a bunch of boxes and stuff we'd been sorting through all summer. He and I were going to drive the truck and our Big Buddy from Florida would follow behind in the car with Mama, Papa and Clance.

When it came time to load the truck I tried to help, but all I was doing was getting in the way. So I decided hunting in the woods would be the best way to stay out of the way.

I found a good trail with a strong scent and was following it through some thick brush when I heard Bubba calling. I stopped my tracking to see if he was serious about wanting me called again. It was about that time I realized I was in trouble. I had been so focused on my tracking I didn't notice until now I was completely covered in burrs. They made it difficult to hurry home and it was pretty slow going. When I finally made it back home Bubba started laughing at me, he picked me up and try to hand me off to Mama telling her I was broken and he didn't want me any more. I guess he thought that was funny but I wasn't laughing, I already felt bad enough.

I got the last laugh on Bubba though. By the time he finished brushing all the burrs out of my fur he was completely covered with them. When he set me down I ran a few steps, turned to face him and looked him up and down and he knew what I was thinking; He was broken and I didn't want him anymore. Then I ran upstairs and spent the rest of the afternoon with Mama and Clance.

The next day we left the big red house on the lake. It was Bubba's birthday and I spent the whole day alone with him riding in the truck. That was appropriate seeing how I was Bubba's only birthday present that year. Riding in the big truck was pretty relaxing for me, I had two big seats I could stretch across and sleep most of the time. Bubba put the thick cushions Clance and I use for day beds on each of the seats so I could look out the windows as we drove along.

It took us two and a half days to get to Florida and the trip was pretty uneventful until we stopped at a truck stop outside of Macon, Georgia. Bubba found a big tiger when we stopped and he helped me and Clance take it down. Clace thought it was GREAT! But once we we caught it, the trophy became a toy and as per our agreement all toys belong to me. So I got to stretch the hide across the two cushions in the truck and sleep on it all the way to Florida.

At the last place we stopped at before we reached our home in Florida Clance got in the truck with Bubba and me and rode the rest of the way with us, so Mama and Papa could stop at the store and pick up groceries. I resented her joining us on the last stretch of our trip. Clance thinks she's the big dog and we fought over positioning in the truck and who would get to stretch out with their our head on Bubba's lap. Bubba ended the fight and showed us how he was fat enough for both of us to share.

When we arrived in Florida Bubba had to unload the truck by himself in the rain. I kept him company being sure to stay out of the way. All the stuff from the truck filled up the garage and Bubba spent the next week sorting through all the stuff already in the house to make room for what was unloaded in the garage.

We had to build a floor for the attic which meant using power tools. As usual Clance spent most of her time with Mama while Bubba and I did all the work. I like power tools they make cool noises and we can create marvelous things with them. When Bubba used the skill saw to cut the planks I sat underneath them to make sure he cut a straight line. When it was time to lay the planks down in the attic I kept an eye on the screws and picked up any that rolled away. By the time we were done both Bubba and I were covered with saw dust.

Chapter VIII

If you want to be informed when new chapters are added or comment write to: ClanceTheodore@thegreatestdogsonearth.com