Perched At The Edge
Four tiny hooves dug into the slippery vinyl rim at the top of an inflatable slide.
The young kid leaned forward, neck outstretched, peering into the shallow puddle pooled at the bottom.
A hose trickled cold water down the ribbed plastic channel, coating the surface in a slick sheen.
Beside the basin, a large German Shepherd sat squarely on the grass, ears pointed forward and eyes locked on the tiny climber.
The dog did not bark or paw at the vinyl.
He simply leaned his dark muzzle forward, tracking every slight shift of the kid’s weight.
The kid bent its front knees, hesitated for a split second, and let gravity take over.
The Splashdown
The small goat coasted downward on its belly, front legs tucked close against the slick incline.
With a light splash, the kid slid into the shallow basin at the base, water rippling outward against the rounded walls.
The kid scrambled upright, hooves clicking against the submerged vinyl floor.
Instantly, the German Shepherd stepped forward onto the damp grass at the pool’s edge.
The dog lowered his snout into the water, sniffing the surface inches from the kid’s flank.
The little goat turned its head, brushing its nose against the dog’s black-and-tan muzzle.
Water dripped from the kid’s chin as the two animals stood nose-to-nose across the inflatable rim.
Neither moved away.
The dog drew a slow breath through flared nostrils, gently nudging the water with the tip of his nose.
Reversing The Course
Instead of stepping out onto the lawn, the kid suddenly spun around in the splash pool.
Its hooves churned through the standing water, kicking up fine droplets.
The baby goat planted its front feet directly onto the lower incline of the slide and pushed upward.
Wet vinyl offered almost no traction.
The goat’s hind legs kicked rapidly against the slick slope, scrambling against the downward flow from the hose.
The German Shepherd took a step along the lawn, pacing the goat’s slow, stubborn ascent.
Each time the goat slid down an inch, its hooves dug in harder, propelling its small frame another foot higher.
The dog tilted his head, watching the white tail twitch with every determined push.
With one final heave of its back legs, the kid hauled itself back onto the flat top platform.
Water streamed off the goat’s belly and down the slide channels.
The kid turned around at the top, stood squarely on both front hooves, and looked straight down across the wet plastic toward the dog’s pointed ears.
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