IT'S GOOD FOR THE FLOWERS...by b. Malin

Isabella woke early and heard the sound of the rain coming down...Jon was still asleep. She rolled over and stared down at her dog Max, her beautiful wonder dog. He must have felt her stare, for he opened his eyes and stretched his enormous furry body, as he stood up, eager and ready to start a new day. The weather made no difference to him.

Isabella gently patted him on the head, as she slipped out of bed, and tip toed out of the bedroom with Max close at her feet. She went into the living room and stared out the large picture window as the rain beat heavily down, showing no sign of letting up. She felt sorry for Jon, for she knew how he was looking forward to his Tennis game...She heard him call her name softly. She turned and headed back to the bedroom with Max walking almost on top of her bare feet.

"It's raining" Jon groaned, Isabella nodded silently. "Damn, Damn, Damn", he went on, "It's my last week end of Vacation and it RAINS"! The room is silent except for the rain and the Groan that Max makes in sympathy as he lays down. "It's good for the flowers" Isabella replies trying to sound cheerful, as Max and Jon stare silently back at her. "I'll get the boys up", Isabella say's as she tries backing out of the room. 'Stay, Max, stay with Jon", she says.

After breakfast, the boys, Burt and Harry, ages ten and twelve, moan in unison, "what are we going to do today". The rain was still doing it's thing. Isabella makes the suggestion that they set up the projector and look at old pictures. Both boys "groan" in unison. But Jon, bless his heart, decides he likes the idea. The boys, and Max, and Jon, head for the family room. Isabella dumps the dishes in the sink and quickly joins them, before anyone changes his mind. "This might be fun" Burt say's, "all of us in PJ's , and Mommy not putting make-up on". Isabella smiles, for she feels comfortable and happy that her family is surviving this rainy day.

The first pictures that appear on the screen are of the boys. They are so very little and blonde, and innocent. Both parent's sigh a deep maternal sigh. As the boys laugh and seem to be enjoying. Isabella silently cried for her father when his pictures had flashed before her. She had thought he'd live to be one hundred, but sadly, he'd died much too soon. They'd all laughed at her many "stylish" hair-do's as well as Jon's. Two and a half hours later, they were done and the rain had stopped and they'd all admitted that they'd had fun.

Later the kids make Pizza for themselves, and Isabella and Jon share a salad as they make plans for the evening. Later Isabella straightens the kitchen and then heads for her bathroom to take a shower. She opens the bathroom windows wide, to let the cool clean fresh air in. Everything looks so green and inviting...Jon sticks his head in and tells Isabella that he is going to stretch his legs and take a... he never gets the words "walk" out. Before Max hears him, and is by his side ready to join him.

Isabella leans out the bathroom door, drops her towel as Jon pulls her close and kisses her passionately as Max Groans...They both say in unison, "Go away Max" as they close the bathroom door. Max lays down to wait, patiently, for his walk.