Pictured: Aaron  with Roxie getting comfortable on top of him. (2009)

NEW LIFE OF SMOKEY
by Aaron Robert Kalinowski
(printed by permission)

There was trouble going on in the junk yard in Coal Township, Pa between the black cat and the brown dog.  The black cat and the brown dog got into a big fight over who is going to Danville or Shamokin for their grooming.

The cat would not compromise with the dog because he lived in Shamokin and the dog was from Danville.  They thought both cities were far apart.

The dog lived in Shamokin and he was not familiar with the Danville area.  On the other hand the cat knew all about his area in Danville.  But the dog lived in Shamokin all his life and he was set in his ways to where he wanted to be groomed.

The dog was not satisfied because the groomer was not good at his work.  Besides he was too expensive and he was on a budget and he wanted to save money.  But the groomer in Danville was better at his work and had more experience then the one in Shamokin.

The dog made a deal with the cat.  If you go to the groomer in Shamokin with me I will pay for your grooming.  Then the next time we will go to your groomer.  Is it a deal?  The cat said yes it is a deal.  Then they ran as fast as they can to get to the Shamokin groomer.

Then the dog went first to get his hair groomed.  His hair went all over the place.  Then it went on the cat and tickled his nose.  The cat sneezed and the dog hair stood up.  What a mess!  The dog rolled with laughter.

Then it was the cat turn for his grooming.  When he got groomed he made a funny face because he was all shaved off.  He was so furious and angry because it was in the dense of winter.  What am I going to do?

I am going to freeze this winter.  I will not be able to go outside to play with you.  The dog said don't be silly there is another alternative.  We can go to my house and have my mom make you a sweater.

Does that sound good to you.  The cat replied and said yes I would like to stay warm this winter so lets go and get to the house as quick as we can so they went out of the shop and giggled all the way to the dog house.

The dog was cold and freezing and the cat was also cold and freezing so the dog and the cat went into the house and the dog said hi mom.  She was glad the dog was back home so then the dog and cat sat down on some chairs and had some hot tea to drink and cookies to eat.

They enjoyed their lunch and then they played some games like a card game called Uno, money bags, and bingo.  They had so much fun that the whole family joined them.  They laughed and giggled the whole night.

But their mom and dad had to work the next day.  The cat and dog became good friends.  They went everywhere together.  They went back to the grooming house and told them that their haircut was so bad that they will never do business there ever again.

The groomer offered a free haircut so he would keep himself in business.  They replied no thanks.  My mom and dad was so upset that we cannot get allowances for such haircuts.  So we decided to go to Mt. Carmel instead.

I was pleased with my haircut there.  So the dog and cat went there from now on and they were satisfied with their hair.  They even took pictures and posted them in a frame.

They even laughed when they were doing it.  They laughed so hard that it brought tears to their eyes.

We will never experience it again they chuckled.  Beside I didn't pay for the last haircut.  Ha! Ha! It took a long time for their hair to come back because it was so short and uneven.  Thank God for moms said the dog.

Because they were made sweaters to keep them warm.  It did not cost them a dime.  They even frame their sweaters to remember the dreadful day it was to get a baldy haircut.  What a great time we had.  I will always remember that day and when I have pups or kittens we will not take them there.