Have you ever been confused? I am. I’m back from the big city. Haven’t written in like forever. I don’t know what to say. It hurt to see Liz and Bo so happy. I mean gushy happy, like … kissy and smiley and touchy. Like they’re crazy about each other. So where does that leave me? And Dad?

They were nice to me. Took me to the theater, to plays, shopping, dining.  I felt like an intruder in their “prefect” world. And I can’t write more about it ATM. Maybe later. LIC

Lucky here. Remember me? I’m the puppy Reb rescued after I was dumped. I missed her terribly while she was gone.  She’s been pretty grumpy since she got home. Wiggles and I have been doing our tricks: sitting up, rolling over, raising a paw to shake hands. Reb smiles sometimes. Other times she stays in her room, with just me, Wiggles, and Cleo. We’re working on cheering her up. Thought we might throw her a Welcome Home Party.

If we do, you’re invited. Talk to you later.

Yep! I’m in the big city with Liz and Bo. Not by choice. Dad insisted.

They’re being so nice to me.

Guilty conscience?

I just wish they’d be honest.

We’ll see how much they enjoy my visit. I can live up to my name, you know.

That was a long wait, I know. June was hectic. July promises to be even more so. We’ll tall about that another time. Now, let me tell you about the music that I heard outside my window. You’ve probably guessed who it was already, since the Garret cousins are always up to something. Yep, it was them.

Sully stood under the mulberry tree, guitar in hand. The first time I’d ever seen him with a musical instrument of any sort. He actually sounded pretty good. (Or maybe he was playing a recording and pretending it was him stroking the guitar strings. I couldn’t tell for sure.)

Anyhow, he played, and Will sang. I didn’t recognize the melody. They later said they wrote it themselves. The Garret boys are full of surprises. So I threw open the window and listened. It was a lovely song about … (Grin) … me, of course. They certainly know how to win a girl’s heart. When they finished, I invited them in and we drank sodas and lounged around, making up funny songs that Sully put a tune to. Will’s voice was nice.

With friends like the boys, I should be happy. I am, when they’re around. But evil lurks over me. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be living with the enemy: Liz and Bo. I managed to talk Dad into cutting the time to one month rather than the whole summer. One month of torture. I can’t even take my puppies and cat with me. Liz, formerly known as Mom, doesn’t like fur on the carpet.

Think of me. Away from home. In the big city. Having to be nice to HIM. We’ll see about that.

I know, I know. It’s been ages since I’ve written in you, dear diary. I’ll try to update you now. It may not be pretty. I’ve got the summer blahs. Blah this. Blah that. Blah world.

Mom called. Yeah, she suddenly remembered she had a daughter. I’d just as soon she hadn’t called, however. She wants me to spend the summer with her and him. Now why would I want to do that? I just want to stay home, swim, ride Sunrise, and hang with Will, Sully, Josie, Jen, and Casey. Nobody seems to care what I want. I’m thinking of writing a book about my life.  Or maybe Josie, Jen, and I will take off, drive cross country, see the USA. What do you think, diary?

I couldn’t leave my babies, though. They’d miss me. I’d miss them.

Wait! I hear music outside my window.

Back in a sec.

I’m back.

 Heeeeheeeeheeee! You’ll never believe this. Gotta go. Tell you about it later.

BBL

You’ve heard the story of how the mighty Casey (not Jen’s Casey, the legend Casey) struck out. Sadly, that about sums up the NCAA regional tournament for the Cowboys. They played their hearts out. They gave it their all. It wasn’t quite enough. Their season ended, 6-5. Hold your heads high, boys. You done good.

MEHH

Until next time.

Saturday’s game was a nail-biter. The Cowboys won 3-2. I finally could breathe. They can advance by winning tonight. Hold breath again.

This has nothing to do with baseball, but if you’re looking for summer reading, may I suggest me … er … my book? It’s rodeo time, this summer. My book has a little of that. Summer is a time for romance. You’ll find some of that too in Rebel in Blue Jeans. If you love animals and small children, take a look. Laughter makes you younger, they say. (OK, I made that one up.) You’ll laugh with Rebel and the boys at the pet shop. Or you can just take a long nap, like I’m about to do.

BFN

Good news. The Cowboys won their first game yesterday. What a game. One player hit three home runs. Wow! The pitchers walked him his next two at bats. Do you blame them?

Our friend did super too. He had, I think, 4 hits, one a bunt. F ingers are crossed for tonight’s game. They have to play the winner of the other game yesterday. It will be a tough one, but they’ll get tougher as the tournament progresses. Tune in tonight for results.

On other news. School’s out. Yay! Bad news. Mom expects me to spend the summer with her and him. Not likely. But how to convince her and Dad of that is the million dollar question. Having some thoughts about it. Possibilites: One, come down with an exotic, contageous disease. Two, run away and spend the summer in the mountains or at the ocean. Three, say “No, no, no, and no.” You can see how each of these presents a problem.  Sigh. Do I have any say in my life?

: (

Will, Sully, and I watched the baseball tournament this afternoon. One game anyway. No, we didn’t go to SC, but they have the neatest way you can watch on your computer. The Cowboys won. It’s called GameTracker or something like that, and they have this little baseball diamond on the monitor and roly-poly looking players with their names and everything. You see them hit the ball and run the bases. And the Cowboys did lots of that today. YAY! They were amazing. What you say? We cheered for Oklahoma State, when we’re in Texas? Well, yeah, we did. We know one of the players. He had a great game, as did the whole team. Wish we’d seen the real thing. They play the winner of tonight’s game there tomorrow.

Gotta take care of my animals now. Sunrise and Stormy are waiting for their oats.

BBL

Well, leave it to the Garret boys to do the unexpected.

Josie, Jen, and I spent hours doing our hair, getting our makeup just right, making sure our dresses were perfect. Mine was a strapless, sky blue to match my eyes, just touching my ankles. Will’s eyes bugged out when he saw me. I just love it when that happens. He’s used to seeing me in jeans and T-shirt, so it was quite a contrast.

Josie wore a pink, off the shoulder, her best color. And Jen looked like a dainty princess (she’s barely 5, 2) in white.

So, we’re waiting for the guys to drive up in a limo. Doesn’t everybody go to the prom in a limo? I can answer that for you. Anybody who’s sane does, but no one ever accused the Garret boys, and Casey, of being sane. So we hear this racket outside the house, look out the window, and in the driveway stand two horses hitched to a wagon. Sully and Casey see us, stand up in the back, and wave. Will, in the driver’s seat hollers, “Wait right there. We’ll be up.”

“No,” Josie cried.

“I don’t believe it,” Jen said.

 ”I’m not ruining my dress in that … that buckboard,” I said.

Fifteen minutes later we were bumping down the road, Sully, Josie, Casey, and Jen sitting on bales of hay in the back. Me at the front next to Will, the wind blowing my hair that I spent hours getting just right into a mess of tangles.

We made quite an entrance at the school gym. Why, you ask? I’ll tell you. We were the only girls, and guys, there with twigs of hay decorating our hair and dripping out of our pockets. (In my case the top of my dress. We got a few stares. And some teasing. But you know what. When Will put his arms around me, and we started dancing, the rest of the world disappeared. It was a night to remember.

Now that’s something to write about.

Still dreaming.

What was your prom night like?

Dear Diary,

I know, I know I haven’t written in ages. But I’ve been busy.

School exams.

The prom (more about that in another post). I have my dress. Josie helped me pick it out. Dad hates it. What do men, Fathers especially, know? 

Halter training Stormy. He’s growing and is so smart. He does have an attitude, however. Thinks he’s in control. Cleo must have been talking to him.  

Pretending I don’t care if Mom comes to graduation when I really care. She hasn’t committed yet. Maybe it’s best if she doesn’t, especially if she brings him with her. Dad says I should be nice. Why?

Another thing. I know she wants me to visit them for the summer. No way. I’d rather eat worms. But do they ask me what I want to do? Ha.

Sorry for complaining, diary. Will try to be more positive next time.

I am looking forward to the prom. Will’s my date. (As if you didn’t know.) LOL

Happy Memorial Day, all. We’re having a cookout at the Garret’s ranch. Food. Music. Games. Love holidays.

B4N