By Gabbi Pie

It was a typical Friday at Liberty Lake. In front of the office, the three camp dogs, Callie, Rosie, and Nelli were sitting together. Camp hadn’t started yet, but the buses would arrive soon.

Callie was a big brown Newfoundland, Rosie was a big black Newfoundland, and Nellie was a black Burmadoodle.

“I’d rather be inside,” Callie muttered, breaking the silence.

“I’m tired,” Rosie yawned.

“I want Nate,” Nellie whined.

“You always want Nate,” Callie stated. She was talking about Nellie’s owner who worked at the camp, Nate Potts.

“I love him!” Nellie whined louder.

“To say you love him is the understatement of the dog-year,” Callie said. “You worship him almost!”

“Now, Callie,” Rosie calmly interjected, “Let’s not be too rude, sis. Nate is her owner, after all. Don’t you feel the same way about Jill?” Jill was the camp owner’s wife and Callie’s owner.

“I do live Jill,” Callie said a little sweeter. “But I don’t follow her around all day and look for her the second she’s out of my sight! I don’t talk about her all day long!”

Rosie was a little unsure about how to respond. But it turns out luck was on her side because before she could answer she heard engines running. She smelled exhaust. Turning her head, she saw the buses.

“Camp’s starting! Let’s put this conversation on hold, girls!” Rosie exclaimed. She sat up. So did Callie and Nellie.

Andy came out of the office with, as usual, an enormous smile on his face. He adjusted his cap and shirt, “Ready to have a great day today, girls?”

The dogs smiled, their way of saying, “Of course!”

That’s when their day went off in very different directions.

“Come on, Callie!” Andy called as he started up the steep hill to the drop-off area. Callie was exhausted and wanted to hang back, but she knew she had no choice. She put on her smile and let Andy put on her leash.

“This thing takes away all my freedom!” she thought. But she let Andy walk her up.

Kids poured out of the buses like lemonade out of a giant pitcher. As each kid passed, he or she received a high five from Andy and a smile (albeit a forced one) from Callie. Almost every time, the kid would caress Callie’s silky, milk-chocolate brown fur. It felt nice, but not as nice as the A.C. in the office.

Rosie decided to go to the Reneeborhood, a small outdoor theater by the rock-climbing wall. She liked seeing the campers, and making them smile by letting them pet her was one of her favorite things to do.

As she approached the Reneeborhood, the seniors who met here has just arrived and were thrilled to see her. She walked along the aisles, stopping every once in awhile to let the kids pet her. They would squeal and say “Rosie!” and pet and hug her. She would smile and feel warm, but not from the sun.

Nellie scanned her field of vision for Nate. He wasn’t there. She looked around the amphitheater. No Nate. She searched the lunch tent. No Nate. SHe was just about to go to the changing tents when all of a sudden a familiar smell lingered in the air. Nellie let her nose lead the way, finally bumping into a big man with a dark beard and mustache and cap. It was Nate!

Nellie’s tail wagged. She smiled an enormous smile. Nate said, “Hey Nel! I was wondering where you were!” He rubbed her head, and Nellie closed her eyes.

Callie spent the rest of the day in the office. Well, most of it, anyway. After the long ordeal of greeting kids, she had galloped back to the office. She plopped down under a desk and didn’t get up. The A.C. was heavenly and the quiet was, in her mind, much desired. “Ah, paradise at last!” she though as a smile slowly crept on her face.

Late on, however, the dog lady, Wyllie, came into the office. Callie lifted her head. She pretty much knew what was about to happen. It had happened many times before.

Wyllie called, “Come on, Callie!”, but Callie didn’t move. She put her head between her paws, just like her sister Rosie did, and closed her eyes.

“Come on, girl! Callie up!” Wyllie called. But Callie wouldn’t budge.

Wyllie came over and attached Callie’s leash to her collar. Callie felt a little more anxious, but she still didn’t move.

Finally, the leash started to control. She involuntarily got up.

“Good girl, Callie, good girl!” Wyllie cried. Callie signed and walked out of the office. Wyllie led her to Feathers & Fur Club where several kids and Christine, the elective leader, were waiting. She was petted and groomed and hugged and loved. She then realized something.

“There’s somethings you can experience when you’re outside that you just can’t experience when you’re inside. Like being loved by these kind, fun-loving, amazing kids here at camp. Maybe it’s time to stop being lazy and start being outside.”

Rosie walked around for most of the day. Kids ran over to greet and pet her. Counselors and group leaders said “Hi, Rosie.” Andy eventually found her and said, “Come on, Rosie, we’re going to Feathers & Fur Club!”

Rosie didn’t want to go there. The kids crowded around her like she was being interviewed for TV (like the camp was sometimes). They were louder than the bulldozers and other machines that would work on the camp. They always hit the sensitive spot on her back, and that made her want to cry.

But she also didn’t want to disobey Andy. He was her owner, after all. So she just sat there, waiting for the dreaded leash to go on.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Andy stated.

Rosie opened her eyes. She didn’t have to?

“Look, Rosie,” Andy stated. “I’ve learned that you can’t force a dog to do what they don’t want to do. But you’re so mellow, you’ll do anything. But you don’t have to. Understand that if you would rather stay here, that’s perfectly okay.”

Rosie was shocked. Andy had never told her this before. She thought about it.

“That’s great! I can just relax. Maybe I can go inside, or maybe I can make some kids happy, or maybe sit with them. Wait, I don’t have to hang out with these loud, careless, rough kids.”

She sighed.

“But I want to. Even though they’re loud, careless, and rough, they still love me. And I love them.”

Suddenly, a thought came to her.

“Actually, that’s probably why they’re loud, careless, and rough. They’re just trying to show affection, albeit in a weird way.”

Rosie got up, let Andy put on her leash, and walked over to Feathers & Fur Club.

“Wait, you really wanna go there?” Andy asked.

Rosie just smiled. That was her decision, not his, but hers.

Nellie followed Nate around for most of the day. Her favorite part was when he ate lunch. Burger and hot dogs were swiped, and she was petted and hugged.

Nellie went over to Nate, her belly full.  Behind her was a young girl.

“Nellie keep stealing our food! Can’t you control her or something?”

“Well, I’ll try,” Nate answered. ” But it’s hard. She’s surrounded by food. She’s tempted.”

“Just tell her ‘no’ or something!” the girl complained.

“Fine. Nellie, no! Stop!”

Nellie looked up at Nate with her cute eyes. Nate left the lunch tent and she followed. 2 boy sand a girl came up to her to pet her. She sat, of course, but her mind was still on Nate. When they were done, she ran off after Nate.

This repeated at least 50,000 times before Nate turned around and said, “Come on, Nel, Let’s go.”

Nellie smiles! She trotted happily after Nate.

She soon saw they were heading to Feathers & Fur Club. She realized what was happening.

Nate led Nellie into the pen, watched Wyllie put on a leash, then left.

Nellie was crushed. Why would Nate do this? How could he do this? She hung her head in sorrow.

Soon, however, savory smell entered her nose. She lifted her head and opened her eyes. A young boy was holding out a treat to her. She sniffed it, then ate it. For a second, her mind cleared of Nate and focused on the treat and the boy who’d given it to her. She realized something big.

She was happy.

Without Nate.

She smiled and let the boy pet her. Soon, more kids came over until at least 20 kids were petting her. Nate was not-existent in her mind now. All that mattered was them.

Soon, Callie, Rosie, and Nellie realized they were all at Feathers & Fur Club together. They sat together and talked.

“I learned that outside is better than inside,” Callie explained.

“I learned that I can make my own decisions,” Rosie stated.

“I learned that I can enjoy things other than Nate,” Nellie confessed.

“Finally!” Callie joked. “I’m kidding. I’m proud of you two.”

“Me too.” Rosie agreed.

“Me three.” Nellie smiled.

And the Liberty Dogs never looked back.