The Watch Dog Is Mad

Every inch of the birthday party scene was being photographed by an eager Lee Downs as he clicked picture after picture. Jessica Blandon didn’t notice him as she was too busy holding on to the dog collar. The huge dog tugged away and kept trying to return to the party, but a very determined mother was going to keep her daughter‘s birthday party a success. She strained with every ounce of strength to get the gate open to send the dog on his way home. With one final push the dog suddenly shifted gears and began running toward his own house. Jessica lost her footing and was sprawled on the lawn looking into Lee’s camera. He couldn’t resist taking one more picture of her bewildered look. She jumped to her feet, slammed the gate shut quickly and chained it. “Well,” she quietly said as she gathered her composure. “That’s done.” Lee quickly held the camera behind his back so she would forget that he had photographed the entire event. He stood there watching as she adjusted herself to return to the party. She tossed her hair back and straightened her clothes. Pulled her apron back to the front of her body and wiped her hands on the underside of it to clean her hands and yet not soil the front part. “You handled that rather well,” laughed Lee Downs. “I congratulate you.” Jessica Blandon looked at him with a smile and continued as though nothing had happened. “Thank you again for coming. Would you like to take some cake home with you?” “No, thank you,” Lee Downs replied wiping cake off his shoes. “I believe I have plenty to take with me already.” Lee Downs nodded farewell again with a smile and a slight twinkle in the edges of his eyes as he made his way back to the car. He now had a “real” story for the front page. “How proud Mr. McDaniel will be when he sees my first story on the front page!” he thought to himself.