It's alright, Wendy, my everything hurts. Don't worry about it, please, he thought.
"Alright, off to the park we go! You shush, Alex," he said, laughing. OW OW OW!

Wendy giggled, relieved that Alex wasn't bothered by it.

"He has courteously offered, and I have accepted," she said, curtsying. "I've never had a real gentleman escort me anywhere before."

A real gentleman? HA! "So, to the park it is then!" Alex decided to walk a few paces forward, as if to lead them. "Come on!"

Parker sighed with a smile still on his face. "Heh, I guess we're following Alex," he said to Wendy. "Come on, let's get moving."

"Lead the way, monsieur," said Wendy, following him as she continued to hold the crook of his arm. She was very glad to be making friends in this new neighborhood, and was looking forward to seeing the park.

Dimitri showed the walkie talky "This? Do not worry, it's a radio, it has almost the same functions of the cellphone... Dimitri turned on the radio "You have to click this button to talk... Oh right, about Autumn! look Darren, I may help with that situation... I can possibly put some 'eyes' inside Parker's house, what do you say?" Dimitri really wanted to help offering some things.

Parker bowed. OW! SMART. "As you wish, madame." He started off, walking at a comfortable pace for Wendy, watching Alex dash off. "I wonder if he has any idea where he's going," Parker whispered into Wendy's ear.

Wendy whispered back, "Well, he said he was new here, but I don't know if he's as new as I am. I don't know if he's been to this park or not."

Alex knew where he was going. He had slept in the park before. He even has a shelter there as well. He glanced back to make sure he was still being followed and saw Parker and Wendy whispering in each other's ear. He decided to ignore it; most likely they're asking questions about him. "I know where I'm going! The park's just about less then a quarter mile from here! he shouted at them. At his current pace, Alex would beat them by 15 seconds.

"Oh, good!" said Wendy, smiling. "I can't say I'm surprised--why run on ahead unless you know where you're going?"

"That's a little extreme, isn't it?" Darren replied quietly. "...not to mention probably illegal." He gently tapped Dimitri on the side of the head. "No, I don't want you to get in trouble over this. This is the sort of thing humans need to sort out. I'll talk to Summer about the best way to handle it...I'll bring you with me the next time I see her regarding the situation. Maybe an outsider's opinion will help influence her to look deeper into the matter."

Facepalm! Ya IDIOT, remember you are not in Mexico! Spying in this country is illegal, Dimitri. REMEMBER THAT! Legal problems are more serious than social problems! "Do'h! you are right, Darren... I'll just let it go. But still, I need this radio to talk to my owner" Dimitri started to walk away from the property and asked Darren "So... where is the park?

"I've only been there once and I've never actually walked there, so I don't know the way," Darren replied. "Fran should know. She probably went to her house for some art supplies before going to the park. I know where her house is. I'll point the way," the chinchilla said.

Alex, Wendy, and Parker entered the park. It was a simple park; just a few slides, four swings, a few benches, and a merry-go-round. Trees abounded the place, which made the park a popular reading spot, but today the park was empty. At this time, it was just Alex, Wendy, and Parker, alone in the park. Parker slowly swept his hand through the air. "Well, Wendy, here we are! It's usually livelier than this, I wonder what's up. Oh, well, the quiet's good for Fran. She usually concentrates better on her art when it's quiet."

"Ok then, lead the way, please" Dimitri looked both sides of the street asking himself where is Darren going to start.

"Wow.... It's so beautiful.... And it looks like so much fun!" thought Wendy out loud.

When Parker said that Fran concentrated better, Wendy said, "Oh, not a problem. I'm good at being quiet." Which was true.

"Uhmm.. yeah, yeah! the pier, that sounds great.. uh, i mean, if you want too, i'm still going to fish the old fashioned way.." he tried to tack on the end sentence

"Okay, let's go." Summer replied, as she walked past Dale toward the harbor. "Okay, now all I have to do is casually start up a conversation while we're fishing... How hard could it be?

---

Darren quickly guided Dimitri through the neighborhood toward Francia's house and soon they had arrived. He spotted Francia just as she was approaching her front door. "Hey Fran," he shouted out to her as he waved.

"So madam," Alex said, still acting like a gentleman "There's all of that--"Alex gestured at the playground equipment--"and lots of space to run around in. This place has endless things to do." He stood there, his tail slightly wagging, thinking about what they could do.

Just as Fran was about to open the front door, she turned to see both Dimitri and Darren coming toward her. Smiling, she said, "Hey, guys."

"Well...what would you boys like to do first?" said Wendy. She was more than capable of thinking of something to do--if she were on her own. But she didn't know what Parker and Alex would like, or what they wouldn't.

Alex suddenly smiled slyly. "I'll be riiight back... heheheh" He ran behind a tree, his feet throwing snow into the air behind him.

Dimitri waved his paw at Fran"Uh, hello! sorry for taking a little bit long. Ready to go to the park?"

Dimitri accepted with a smile "Sure, I'll help you with anything"

Darren bowed respectfully towards Fran from atop Dimitri's shoulder. "We are your humble servants, Miss."

Dale felt like Summer was being a little too easy going, as if she wanted to get something out of him.. but he shrugged it off.. He followed behind, putting the hood up over his head.

Fran giggled. "Alright, Gentlemen, I'll try not to make you carry TOO much of my stuff." Then, she opened the front door, went inside and started going upstairs.

Summer lead Dale to the water's edge, as she stepped out onto the dock. A bait and pole rental shop with a large sign that read, 'The Pier' was on the border of the dock and land. The dock stretched out about a hundred feet over the water, with boats anchored along the various docks and piers. There were a few humans and a couple of other pets fishing off the pier. They were focused on the task at hand and didn't pay any attention to the dog and cat. The water must have been freezing, because no one was swimming...not during winter. Summer was worried. Her fur didn't keep her as warm as most others...and she'd be fishing traditional style...sticking her paw in the water to try to get some fish.
Summer started walking along the waters edge toward one of the rivers that ran into the bay. "I figured a river or stream would be easier to fish from than the beach..." she hadn't fished traditional style before so she didn't know if she was right or not. She turned to Dale "...what do you think?"

Dale had no idea about fishing either. "What? oh.. uh.. yeah? uhh. yeah.. i think so." he said unreassuringly (lol?).

Things were getting a little bit boring for the husky, so Dimitri tried to make up a conversation with Darren "So, you know what kind of art she makes? classical, modern, Picasso?" he really sounded interested on his own question.

"Well, you saw the painting she did of Summer, right?" Darren replied. "I've seen her work with other mediums as well. Colored pencils, oil on canvas, watercolors. I think she dabbles in a little of everything. Just take a look around the house, I'm sure you can see what I mean."

---

Summer raised an eyebrow in suspicion at Dale. "Oh, c'mon...you think? Look at you. You're a natural hunter. You're being too modest. She pointed at the ocean. "I'm sure you've caught at least a hundred fish." She was smiling at the cat, trying to make him feel more at ease.

Dale tried to put on a fake smile. "Oh, yeah.. hundreds.. heheh.." he scratched the back of his head.

Why does everybody chuckle nervously around me? Summer asked herself. "Great," she replied to Dale. "Maybe you can show me how it's done. It seems like a pretty useful survival skill. We're almost there." She continued walking toward the river.

When Fran walked into her room, there were ALOT of art things, like paintings, sketches, a bust here and there, and, of course, her art supplies. Turning toward the other two, she said, "So, what do you two think?"

Dimitri was impressed, he took off his hat and said "Respect, this place is like a French or Italian museum! wow..." Dimitri looked at the pictures, he was impressed by her gift of drawing and painting "Wow..."

"I don't know about Alex over there, but it's been a pretty long time since I had a snowball fight. Think that would be fun, Wendy?" Parker looked around again. "But since there are only three of us, maybe we should wait until the others show up."

"Ooooh, maybe!" said Wendy. "But let me take off my backpack first."

She went over to the bench and removed her backpack, placing it on the bench. "Don't worry, I'm right here," she whispered.

Making her way back to Parker, she picked up some snow and started to shape it into a snowball.

"Ready?"

But Parker stood there with a puzzled look on his face. "Did you... just talk to your backpack?"

Wendy almost dropped her snowball. She turned red and looked away.

"Of course not, that's silly. Backpacks can't talk. Are you going to make a snowball? I won't throw mine unless it's a fair fight."