My Golden Hour

I hear squealing down the hall and, naturally, must find out what in the world is happening. It isn’t normally a bath night but there they are, my two brothers, sitting in the tub with water going every which way. I try to get closer to investigate, keeping enough distance between me and their splash-zone to stay dry which, as it so happens, covers most of the bathroom. 

Mom is of course sitting near the edge of the tub, pants rolled up like that will somehow keep her paws from getting wet, tossing balls into the water for my brothers to fetch.

Calvin, the big one that likes to run around with me outside, has a water pitcher and keeps flinging water into the basket Henry is sitting in. It doesn’t seem to be getting any fuller though which seems odd. I wonder what kind of sorcery he’s working tonight. He can do all kinds of tricks! One time he made light appear on the wall out of nowhere and moved it with just his mind! He’s my favorite. He’s always putting food on the floor so we can play Find and Eat and he always remembers to leave the back door open so I can go in and out as I please. Silly Mom, she is constantly forgetting to leave it open behind her. 

Henry mostly splashes in the bathtub and tries to chew on anything that comes near him. He has to sit in a basket because Mom calls him a “fall risk”. I don’t know what that is but it’s probably because he hasn’t learned his commands yet. He can “sit” okay but his “stay” is terrible. 

Just as a particularly large wave of water comes toward me I hear someone at the door and spin out of the way just in time to avoid it. I head down the stairs to investigate and fend off any intruders. 

One of my many jobs is to protect the house. Nike, my sister, isn't trusted with this sort of task. She's not nearly as aware as I am. Constant vigilance. I always alert the household when anyone is near. They really don't appreciate it enough. According to Mom, we love Amazon and they are our friends. Of course, I know better… 

I reach the door and, naturally, know who it is before it even opens. I do my happy dance as Dad walks in. He’s been gone for ages! I wonder what he’s been doing. I wonder if he thought of me. I wonder if he’s eaten. I haven’t. I’m starving! Oh wait… I did have dinner. Well, maybe I can trick him into feeding me again. Of course I would have to get Nike in on it. Think more on that later. 

Speaking of Nike, I hear her howling at the back door, calling for Dad to come say hi. I race him to the back door and of course I win. I'm so fast. 

Dad opens the door and Nike comes barreling in. We hop around doing happy dances and Dad gives us scratches. I rub up against him so he can smell like me again. I know he loves that. I hear a big squeal from upstairs and Mom barks down to us. She probably needs my help. 

Bounding upstairs with Dad and Nike behind me I get back to my post at the door to the bathroom. Henry is chewing on a rubber duck. Maybe he’s hungry. I don’t know how, that one eats all day long. Mom pulls him out of the water and hands him to Dad to wrap up in a towel. He’s so excited to see Dad he does a happy dance too. 

Nike lays down at the top of the stairs in her spot and I lead Dad into Henry’s room so we can get him dressed. Other than Nike and I, my family doesn’t have a lot of fur. Kind of silly I think. 

Henry likes to play while he gets dressed. He and Dad wrestle and Henry tries to crawl off his table. Hopping around Dad’s feet, I want to play too! I love to play. They should play on the floor, that would be better.

Finally Dad wins and Henry is all dressed. He’s giggling again and blowing bubbles. He does that a lot, I think it's his favorite. Besides eating. Eating is my favorite. 

I lead them into Calvin’s room where we do bedtime. Dad gives Henry a bottle and he starts eating again. Dad probably doesn’t know that Mom fed him already tonight. Maybe she’ll forget to tell him she fed me too. I’ll test that later.  

I hear Calvin running down the hall and he comes barreling into the room, jumping onto the couch. 

Play! Play! 

I hop on the couch as well and get shooed off so we roll on the ground together and I give him kisses. He’s so fun.

It’s time for books though so I lay down on the rug like the good girl I am. Calvin sits in his spot on the couch and wiggles around while Mom grabs a book. She starts reading and Calvin snuggles up to her. Mom is good at snuggling. Not as good as me, but she's probably second best. Calvin giggles while Mom reads and barks happily. 

Henry finishes his bottle and starts trying to roll around on the couch so Dad has to wrestle him again. He really needs to work on “stay”. He is awful. I’m so good at my “stay”. I should get more treats for it. I should get more treats for everything. Why don't we get more treats? 

Mom finishes the book and it's time for hugs, so I jump up. Calvin and Mom give Henry hugs and then Dad lifts Calvin way up in the sky. I can’t reach that high! Come down! 

Of course, Calvin gives me big hugs too and I give him lots of kisses so that he starts giggling again. 

Mom turns the lamp off as Dad carries Henry to his room and Calvin runs and leaps into bed, snuggling up in his blankets. I run over and nuzzle up to him so he can smell like me while he sleeps. He’ll like that. 

With the lights off and Calvin in bed, Mom sings our song. 

You are my sunshine
My precious sunshine
You make me happy
Each night and day
You'll never know, child
How much I love you
You chase all
My dark clouds away

This is my favorite time. The hour before everyone goes to sleep. The time when my humans gather and we all sit together. My brothers are my world, my sunshine, and I revolve around them. 

Mom gives Calvin a goodnight kiss and we walk into the hall and close the door. I take up my post outside. It’s one of my most important jobs. Of course, I bet I can get a snack first…