Hey! Joey's Back!

"Come on Bobby, let's go take a walk," Terry pleaded.

"No, I want to watch TV and besides the guys will be over soon. You go
on and play."

"But, Bobby! It's spring and who knows what we'll discover!"

"Sis, I said NO! I'm too old to go off playing like a kid. The guys
make fun of me when I hang out with you."

"Fine, enjoy that old TV and your snobby friends. But I warn you I'm
gonna find something really neat in the woods today and you're gonna
miss out. Don't expect me to show you later!"

Without waiting for him to speak she grabbed her jacket off the coat
rack and headed out the door. The door slammed a little harder that she
intended waking the old dog by the step.

"Come on Jaby, phooey on Bobby."

Jaby jumped up without a clue as to where they were going. He was a
good dog and he was Terry's best friend. Placing a lick on her hand
they were ready for the adventure. Terry bent over long enough to put a
big hug around his neck and off they went!

With each step down the path towards the woods her anger at Bobby grew
less and less. She smiled as Jaby stopped to smell anything and
everything.

The cold Ohio winter winds had been replaced by gentle spring breezes.
Terry shared the same anticipation that Jaby had. Jaby sniffed and
Terry began to skip and sing a song.

"My silly brother Bobby sits by the TV all day, he doesn't know what he
is missin' when Jaby and I run and play."

Terry laughed at the silly song she had just made up. She was running
and giggling while she was trying to catch up with Jaby.

Soon she caught up with Jaby at the edge of the woods. He was sniffing
at a rock.

"Jaby, come on boy let's go into the woods."

Jaby refused to move from the spot. He was sniffing harder than she had
ever remembered. Nothing held the dog's attention for very long but
this time was different.he would whine and scratch at the rock. He
would stop only to look up at Terry trying to ask her to help.

"Okay boy, move over. Let me see what you have."

Just as Terry moved the rock a snake about three feet long went
slithering into the high weeds.

Shaking her head in amazement, Terry plopped down in the grass. "Wow,
Jaby did you see that!"

He was too busy to listen. Apparently he didn't see the snake dart into
the woods in the opposite direction. Jaby continued to cry and paw at
the rock.

"You silly dog, you missed seeing the snake!

And so did Bobby," she giggled.

"Let's go tell Bobby!" She couldn't wait to tell the boys what they had
discovered.

Terry headed for the house as fast as she could walk.

"Jaby, come on feller" she called.

Jaby didn't budge. She called again and again, still he didn't
listen.

Terry headed back towards the woods to retrieve her dog. There was no
convincing him that the snake was no longer there.

"Okay, I guess I'm gonna have to show you there is no snake!"

Terry turned the rock over and something moved. Terry and Jaby both
jumped back! Slowly she lifted the rock and once again the leaves
rustled. She gathered all her courage one more time and over went the
rock. Curled in a coil was the tiniest snake she had ever seen.

Jaby cocked his head to the side as Terry began to giggle. Terry
touched the baby snake very gently with a stick. She wasn't going to
hurt it, she just loved to see it wiggle. She knew it was a garter
snake and it was harmless. The little snake didn't seem to mind at all.
Terry and Jaby sat there for a very long time playing. Jaby was so
funny as he touched the snake with his paw. He knew there was no
danger.

The baby snake had become a friend so it only seemed fair that they
give the snake a name. Terry thought and thought and soon came up with
the name "Joey." She remembered that a baby kangaroo was a "Joey." Jaby
barked his approval.

Terry could tell by the angle of the sun that it was time to go
home.

"Gee, I wish I could take you with me little feller. But, that's not
right to take you from your home but, we'll be back tomorrow."

Jaby watched as Terry placed some leaves over Joey and then set the
rock gently back in place. With a joyful bark Jaby headed towards the
house. What a fun day they had! He ran ahead of Terry stopping to look
back to see if she was following. Once again he sniffed anything and
everything.

Terry soon caught up along side. She bent over to wrap him in a big
doggie hug. "Hey boy, now this is our secret. Don't you lead the boys
to Joey!"

Jaby licked her face and she took that to mean YES!

Entering the door she could see Bobby still in the chair watching
cartoons. She figured he had been there for hours.

"Hey Bobby, are you glued to the chair? Where's your friends?"

"They decided to stay home. I guess I should have gone with you. What
did you and that dog of yours find today?"

"Something really neat, but we're not telling," she half-way sang her
reply.

Bobby just ignored her doubting she had found anything at all.

Over the next few months Jaby and Terry would wait for the sun to dry
the high grass and then return to the woods to see Joey. Each day he
would be there waiting for the rock to be overturned. Joey was growing
bigger and bigger.

The changing colors of the trees hinted at fall. The days grew short,
and the evenings cool. Terry made a large pile of leaves hoping Joey
would stay safe and warm.

Early one late November morning Terry awoke at the sound of Jaby
barking outside her window. He was telling her of the large amount of
snow that had fallen over night. Too quickly the snow and cold winds
had returned to Ohio. The winter was exceptionally cold and snowy and
Terry thought of Joey.
Putting on her boots, mittens and hat she started out the gate that
would lead to the woods. The pathway was hidden by the foot of snow
that covered the ground.

"Jaby, wait up. I only have two legs and short ones at that."

He was either too far ahead to hear or too excited.

"He must miss Joey too," she said out loud.

Finally she caught up with Jaby at Joey's rock.
Carefully brushing the snow away she turned over the rock, but, no
Joey! She looked and looked and still no Joey. All that was there was a
long piece of 'something' that looked like skin.

Sadly she replaced the rock and turned towards home. By the time she
stepped in the door her eyelashes were frozen from her tears. She was
glad that her brother wasn't home. He would've asked too many questions
and she didn't feel like talking.

Most of the winter was spent by the fire for Terry and Jaby. Several
times they ventured to the woods in hopes of finding Joey. He was no
place to be found.

Signs of spring were beginning to appear. The crocus were blooming
through the melting snow. Soon the spring rains began and the path to
the woods was too muddy to venture down. It had been months since Jaby
and
Terry had explored the woods. They were anxious to run and play.
Ruthie, Terry's mom, placed a gentle kiss on her daughters' cheek. Jaby
wagged his tail and whined softly.

"T&;#8230; wake up I have a surprise for you."

Terry opened one eye and smiled brightly. She knew when her ma called
her "T" there was something good about to happen. Jaby knew it
too!

"What is it ma?" Terry was wide awake now!

"If you are a good girl and eat first you and Jaby can go to the woods
today."

"Oh, Ma! You're the greatest!"

Terry's feet were running before they hit the floor! She ran down the
hall toward the kitchen with Jaby barking at her heels. Jaby was never
far from Terry.

Terry was happy that breakfast was cold cereal and she ate in a rush.
Ruthie sat and watched her little girl with pride and joy. She loved
her Bobby and her T but she couldn't help but wish that Bobby was more
like Terry.

Terry was so full of life and adventure.

Ruthie's thoughts were stopped suddenly by the clank of the spoon
hitting the empty cereal bowl. While placing her bowl in the sink Terry
noticed how full the dishes were piled. Her heart sank knowing it would
be at least another hour before her chores were finished. She was so
anxious to get out into the fresh air.

Ruthie couldn't help but notice the disappointment showing on Terry's
face.

"Terry, please tell your brother to turn off the TV and help me do the
dishes."

She could hardly believe her ears! "Thanks ma, you're the best!"

Jaby's excitement matched Terry's. Off to the woods they raced. Terry
could hear Jaby barking at the edge of the woods. His bark was happy.
As she approached there was Jaby barking and pawing at the rock that
once was the home of Joey. Sudden sadness broke her spirited
mood.

"Awwww Jaby, you remembered Joey after all this time. I'm sorry
Jaby&;#8230;"

Jaby continued to bark and carry on. She decided that she would have to
show Jaby that there was nothing there.

To prove to Jaby that he was barking for no reason, she slowly lifted
the rock.

Jaby's tail wagged harder and faster.

"See Jaby, look&;#8230;look&;#8230;LOOK! Terry found it hard to
say her next words..."Hey! JOEY'S BACK!"