Pocket Writes Home From Sleep Away Camp

 

It is I, your little Pocket Dog.  I am having a fantastic time at Sleep-Away-Camp.    You were brilliant to send me here.  Honestly, I was hiding a big secret from you.  Before I went to camp, I was feeling poorly. I kept pooping; my mouth hurt, I had trouble peeing.  As soon as I arrived, I felt better; it must have been something in that river I swam before arriving at camp. 

    And get this!  All my angel friends are here, led by Foley!  She was wearing her judge clothes and looked so silly I had to laugh. She made me take the Sleepy Time Camp oath, and then everyone cheered.  I felt like a princess.

    Boy, did it rain after that!  Foley told me that the raindrops were tears shed when people found out I went to camp. Most of them were yours.  I guess parents do miss their kids when they go to camp.  I felt terrible that you were upset and wanted to go home.  Foley told me I couldn’t but that we could visit.

    She took me to this bird store and picked out two bodies, then paid the proprietor a bag of seed.  The next thing I knew, I was a hummingbird!  Foley taught me how to fly.  It was challenging, but once I got the hang of it, I was soaring.  

    Foley told me to follow her, and we flew for a long time until we came to familiar butterfly bushes.  I realized I was home again and seeing things from a whole new perspective.  I had so much fun chasing Foley around the yard, just like we used to when she lived with us.  I saw you in the window, and I felt terrible that you looked so sad.  I fluttered my wings at you to signal I was happy at camp and thankful you took my pain away.  I hope you noticed.

    Not all camp life is fun. Before Foley let me come here, she made me promise that I would become her clerk of courts.  Foley is a sleepaway camp judge.  I thought it had something to do with picking the winner of pie and pig contests, but apparently, camp members come to her when they have disputes, and she decides who is right.  I guess she is cut out for it because she is never wrong.  Just ask her.  Anyway, whoever had the job before I did was terrible.  It might take me all summer to get caught up.

    I share a tiny house on the river with Foley, and I met my predecessors, Jax, Sky, Copper, and Blake.  It was a true honor to get to know  them all.  I can see why you loved them so much.   Jax is going to teach me how to blow things up: It sounds like fun.

    I asked Foley when I could go home, and she said, not today or tomorrow, but since time moves quickly here:  Soon.  And she said you and Daddy would arrive seperately, but the way Daddy drives, who knows?  Then, when we are all together at camp, we will return home, to a land called Happily Eve After.  

I am looking forward to that.

    I know parents are sad when their dogs go to sleepaway camp.  I don’t want you shedding tears.  I am all better now.  I am at a place where nothing scares me, and I will never have an upset tummy again.  Most of all, I am with friends and won’t be sick or in pain   

    Like all kids at camp, once we were separated, I realized how much I loved you.  You are the best mom anywhere.  I was a special needs dog with a small bladder, weekly diarrhea, and fear of loud noises.  A lot of moms would have given up on me, but you never did.  Thank you for giving me the best life any dog had ever lived.

    Foley says that we will visit you in your dreams soon, and we will keep doing it until camp ends, and I am with you again.

    It just won’t be today or tomorrow and It will be that way for a long, long time.

    But I can handle it.  You gave me what I needed to survive and everything that made me Little Pocket Dog. I will be thankful for ever.

Love Pocket Dog