A Barking Dog

No one knew the day would start off so serene and plesant.  It was, after all Saturday and the feast last night was well worth staying out for.  It bode well to know that the bedsheets said 'Stay awhile and sleep again."  But the joy of the day was short lived.
  After arising for the second time, the first being to use the bathroom, Ted went to the kitchen and made some breakfast.  Today was grass cutting day.  The coffee made him want to get started early.  His wife Ann reminded him that it would be after dark before the kids would be home.  He would have to pick them up at the
school gym at nine p.m.

  Ted took his time in the garage, he cleaned off his mower and prepared to fill it up.
  He barely took notice but the empty house on the right  was making noise.  A dog noise.  Standing up he looked out over the car fender and saw a moving van on the street.  Finally, someone to share the scene.

  The dog wasn't all that small either.  He really liked to bark and bark. Nerveracking was all it was.
 
  He tried atmosphere control placing himself in a fantasy land of rivers streams and birds flying about.  That didn't seem to help.

  Ann came out with a beer in hand saying.."What in the world?' 

  " New dog.  I hope they plan to train it a  little better."


    At seven p.m. Ted stepped out to go pick up the kids.  The dog,barking all day long barked at him again.  His owner was outside sitting in a lawn chair.

  "Hi, how are you, I'm Ted Ladken."
  The other man didn't seem to interested in meeting Ted.  It would be a problem.

  When the kids came home with their dad, they asked about the dog next door.

  "I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with that guy, but we may have to file a complaint if he doesn't shut that dog up.


    Sunday was the last straw.  Getting  up for church was one thing, Being woke up for the rest of his days at six thirty by a barking dog was too much.  He decided he'd call the cops on Monday morning.

  Monday found him drinking a cup of coffee on the phone and the police coming out.
 
  "I will take care of my dog" the neighbor said. Giving Ted a bad look, he went inside brought out a muzzle and put it on his dog.  The muzzle stayed on while the cops were there, however as soon as they left the muzzle came off and the man came over to the house and apologized to Ted. 
 
 
"I don't know what to do with him, it's why we moved again."
  "I know someone who works with dogs.  He might be able to help."

  Ted offered his neighbor a business card with a dog on it.
 
  "Thanks, I'll call him.'
 
  With a little patience Ted found himself able to sleep late again on Saturdays.
  With a little kiss, Ann had a happy husband in bed.