Several dark sleeps later, Peach and I ride in the car again with our family. When we stop, I jump out of the car into a familiar scene—rows of cars, sidewalk, and no grass. I think I know where we are going. My tail bounces from one side of my back to the other. I high-step in the front of our family, leading our way up the stairs to the street.
When I arrive on the street, I realize the smell is different. I look around me. Big cars and trucks speed by, and across the street is grass—tons of it! This isn’t the same place as last time, and I wonder if a new adventure awaits us here.
I glance at Peach. She trembles from the loud noise of the street. I stand beside her to calm her nerves. We wait for a few minutes, and then Nate guides us across the street. Peach and I pull our way to the grassy area. Once we reach the grass, Peach’s shaking stop. Together, we investigate the grass to learn if any dogs are nearby. Hannah and Nate move us to a path after a few minutes. I trot on the grass beside the path. This grass is cool and squishy. It feels good on my paws on this warm evening. As we walk, the dark starts to invade the air around us, but a few lights help us see the way.
When I hear the sound of running water, I stop in my pug tracks. The water reminds me of bath time. I turn to Peach. She is plowing forward without a worry. Sometimes I wonder about her.
“Let’s go, Zelda,” Hannah says. We move forward, and I see bright lights ahead. Some flash on and off. Some even change colors. Curious, I take a few steps closer, against my better judgment.
“Mom, can I play in the fountain?” Lucy asks.
“I don’t know, Lucy. You will be wet for the car ride home,” she replies.
“Please, Mom!”
Hannah turns to Nate. He is grinning.
“She’ll be fine. It’s a warm evening,” he says.
“Okay,” Hannah says.
“Yay!” Lucy sprints into the lights.
What is she doing?
I dash after her, pulling Ben behind me. My paws hit water. I am standing in a puddle.
Where did that come from? It isn’t raining.
I am thirsty. I take a few licks and then survey my surroundings. The water is spraying in every direction through the lights. Lucy is running through all the lights and water with a big smile on her face. Meanwhile, Peach stands behind me away from the water.
What is this place?
I stand waiting and watching for a few minutes.
Should I run with Lucy?
I take a step closer to the first light. I feel a small splash on my front legs. It feels good after all this walking tonight. Lucy stops running in front of me.
“Zelda, run with me!” she says. “Ben, give me her leash.”
“I don’t think Zelda wants to run in the fountains,” he says. I look at Hannah and Nate. Peach is by their side. They are talking with each other. They won’t save me.
“Please,” she says. Ben sighs and hands her the leash.
“Okay, let’s go Zelda!” She pulls me toward the middle of the lights and water. I lock my paws in place.
“See, I told you,” Ben says. Lucy makes a face at Ben and bends over. She pets my head and smiles.
“It will be fun. I promise,” she says. I sigh, snorting into her face.
“Eww.” Lucy stands. “C’mon Zelda.” I give in. I can’t resist Lucy. We walk to the middle of the water and lights.
“Okay. Are you ready, Zelda?” No. This seems like a bad idea. “Okay, let’s run!”
She starts running, yanking me with her. She leads me through a bright light of water. The water hits my belly and my back, soaking me for the few seconds we run through it. The water is cool, and it feels good.
Lucy drags me through another burst of water. I look ahead and see three more lights. We make it to the third water light. This time Lucy stops under the streams of water. I stand beside her. She is giggling. Her laughter excites me. I bark and run in circles around her.
“Okay! Let’s go!” We sprint through the rest of the lights. I let the water splash all over me as I chase Lucy. She is laughing, so I don’t mind the extra water weight I’m carrying. Finally, we make our way back to the front. I’m exhausted. I plop next to Peach on the sidewalk.
“Zelda loved the fountains!” Lucy says. “You were wrong, Ben.” He shrugs his shoulders.
“We better get home,” Hannah says. “It’s cooling off fast.”
I rise from the ground. The water is dripping off me, so I shake my body with all my strength to rid my fur of the excess water.
“Zelda, no!” Ben says. Peach leaps away from me, but Ben’s reflexes are too slow. All the water from my fur flies in the air at Ben. Hannah, Nate, and Lucy start laughing.
“You don’t need to shower tonight,” Nate says.
“That’s gross, Dad,” Ben says. “Man, I am soaked. I don’t know how such a small dog can get me so wet from shaking.”
I snort. I guess it’s a pug mystery!