i didn't wanna go.

********

but i'm so glad i did. 

****

mister pencilfox asked that i attend a gathering of his comrades 

and their family members. 

a barbeque

he said. 

so what were all these fine folks doing indoors on such a lovely autumn day?
[mister pencilfox said "because that's where the food was."] 
mister pencilfox 
-- who occasionally came out to check on me --
and the guy running the grill
were the only ones outside the clubhouse. 

and. 

you know where this pencilfox was. 

yup. 

outdoors. 

playing with fire. 

walking to the creek. 

insisting on roasting my pepperdog over the fire instead of the grill. 

when i finally fell into bed 

after a long day of cleaning.laundry.packaging.mailing.playingwithfire

i smelled of woodsmoke

and my heart was happy. 

********

life is good. 

********