Dog Days of Summer
August 2024
"Brian, come in here," Justin called from the door of the sun porch.
"In a few minutes," Brian replied. "I'm not done yet."
"You're going to get sun stroke."
"I have a hat on."
"I know, but it's like a hundred and ten degrees out there."
"I'm well aware of how hot it is. I am outside," Brian snapped as he swiped his wrist across his forehead, wiping off the sweat that was threatening to blind him.
"I know you are, and you shouldn't be. It's too hot."
"The flowers need the extra water."
"I'd rather have you alive than the fucking flowers!" Justin declared.
"If all goes well, we'll both be alive."
Justin slammed the sun porch door emphasizing that he was royally pissed at his partner.
"Whoa!" John reacted as he came in from his side of the conjoined cottages. "Try to keep that door in one piece unless you want it to be a hundred degrees in here too."
"Can you make your idiot brother come in out of the heat and sun? He's been out there watering for over an hour," Justin complained.
"You know that nobody can make that stubborn sibling of mine do anything - with the possible exception of you," John added.
"I can't budge him."
"He loves his gardens."
"The sprinklers have already been on but he's out there with a garden hose. He's nuts."
"Well, I won't argue that one with you," John said staring out at Brian. "He looks hot, and I don't mean in a sexy way, but he doesn't look like he's suffering."
"Until he keels over from the heat," Justin said petulantly.
"Are you two finished discussing how stupid I am for being out in the heat?" Brian asked as he came through the sun porch door, pulling off his hat and wiping his brow.
"Someone has to tell you how stupid you are, and do something about it," Justin declared.
"On that cheery note, I'm going home," John said, before he beat a hasty retreat back to his side of the cottages.
"Are you finally finished broiling yourself in the sun?" Justin demanded.
"All finished. The flowers will live another day," Brian replied. "I need a shower."
"Ooh, a hot, sweaty, still alive and functioning...?" He looked at Brian for affirmation of that last statement. When Brian nodded, Justin continued, "Brian Kinney. Yum!"
"You still have that sweaty, dirty Brian fetish, do you?" Brian asked.
"Of course I do, but you don't give me nearly enough opportunities to make use of it," Justin said as he sidled up against Brian and sniffed appreciatively. "You don't usually like to get all sweaty."
"Except in bed."
"That's where we should head right now," Justin said batting his baby blues at his husband.
"I really need to shower," Brian said smelling his armpit.
"Later."
"The squirt?"
"She's having dinner at Ashley's. We've got lots of time."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Brian asked as he grabbed Justin's hand and they ran for the bedroom.
"Yeehaw!" Justin crowed as he kept pace with the tall man.
*****
Some time later they lay side by side on the rumpled bed, each with a goofy grin on his face.
"That was awesome," Justin bragged.
"Not bad if I do say so myself," Brian agreed.
"We should do this more often."
Brian snorted. "We'll have to burn the bedding. We'll never get the smell out of it."
"Such a pessimist. I'll do the laundry," Justin promised.
"You really did need to get laid, didn't you?" Brian asked with an arched brow.
"Only with you," Justin whispered sweetly rolling toward Brian.
"I would hope so after all these years."
"Again?" Justin asked.
"I really need a shower," Brian said feeling his age even though he hated to admit it.
"Okay, I'll scrub your back."
"Deal," Brian said as he climbed out of bed.
"Um..."
"What?" Brian stopped and looked at his husband.
"What's the temperature supposed to be tomorrow?" Justin asked.
"As fucking brutal as today. Why?"
"Will you be watering again?"
"If the flowers need it, I will."
"Good," Justin said getting up from the bed.
"Good? I thought you were worried I'd get sunstroke," Brian said.
"Wear your hat, put on lots of sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids. I'll make sure the squirt has somewhere to be," Justin stated definitively.
"Oh," Brian said as the true meaning of Justin's concern came to him.
"Come on, old man. Time for that back scrub."
"You sure drive a hard bargain."
"Yeah," Justin snorted, "really hard."
*****
The Pack
August 2024
“What the hell is that?” Debbie shrieked. She jumped up from the shaded swinging lounger she was sharing with Carl.
August was proving to be a very hot month. Fortunately the lane, surrounded by woods afforded a cooler environment if one didn’t exert too much energy. Carl and Debbie were enjoying a quiet afternoon lounging in the front of their cottage. They chose to sit in the front so that they could watch the comings and goings of the vacationing people on the lane. Molly, Owen and little Taylor were spending time in their little getaway. Michael, Ben, Hunter and Nick were staying a few weeks in their log cabin. Even Emmett and Drew were taking a break in their quaint cottage behind the white picket fence.
“Easy Babe, it’s only Beau and his family on patrol,” Carl said with approval. The three large wolf dogs ran past the cottage at breakneck speed kicking up dust and pebbles as they ran.
“On patrol? What the fuck? Did you deputize them?”
“I was a detective not a sheriff. Only a sheriff can deputize someone. Brian said Beau regularly patrols his territory. Lucie and Little Beau are his pack so they join him on patrol. Someday this territory will belong to Little Beau.”
“Hey, hey, bite your tongue. We have a long time before that happens,” Debbie declared and her word was sacrosanct.
“I’m sure we do. But Beau has to teach his pup the ropes. And dogs learn by following the leader.”
At that moment, Beau chose to turn and lead his pack toward the new cottage. The dogs trotted over to sit in front of Carl.
“Well hello, Beau, Mrs. Beau and Little Beau. How are you all doing this fine day?” Carl cordially greeted the pack.
Debbie gave her husband an incredulous look. “I think you’ve been out in the sun too long. That’s a bunch of dogs you’re talking too. They can’t understand you.”
“You never had a dog, did you?”
“No. We barely had enough money to feed ourselves, let alone a dog. And then I had Michael to raise.”
“That explains it. Well, I had a few dogs growing up and knew several great dogs in the K-9 division. I feel safer knowing these guys are out here.”
Carl extended his hand to Beau. Beau knew Carl’s scent from all the times Carl had visited. Beau gave a little chuff then Lucie came over to make her inspection. When she was satisfied, she barked. Then it was Little Beau’s turn. Little Beau was still learning all the members of the extended family. But he recognized this scent as a good scent and would defend the person it belonged to.
“Good boy,” Carl said as he patted the young dog on the head. “There’s water over there,” Carl pointed to a shaded area under a bush. The dogs sniffed the air then trotted over to the bowls to take a good long drink. When they drank their fill the dogs barked then trotted away.
“Well, that was interesting,” Debbie said for lack of anything better to say. Then she sat back down on the swing.
“So is this what our life will be now? Sitting on a swing and watching the world go by?” Debbie asked after a while as she snuggled closer to her husband.
“I’m afraid so, Babe.”
“And those beasts will be a part of it.”
“Yup.”
“Well, shit.”
“Welcome to the pack, Babe!”
-end-