Diedra did the best job ever for music. She brought two bands, and they were both great. A few of Mark's friends had a jam after Diedra's bands had finished their sets. The whole day was eventful. There was almost a disaster in the afternoon when a wild swing at the piñata came perilously close to the children scrambling for the treats that had already escaped. The traditional Preakness Race Betting Pool was run by Franklin in his hat with the "Bookie" tag. The Tenth Anniversary Party was a great success.
"Hey neighbor," Bucky said, "What's up?" It was a few days after the Party and Mike had come over with a question.
"Do you have any books we can look this up in?" asked Mike. He was holding a turtle with a bright ring of colorful squares around the edge of its shell. "I found it down by the stream," Mike said. He and Bucky decided that it was a Painted Turtle.
"That's a new one on me," said Bucky. "I wish Loie were here to see it too!"
On June 2 Loie got her Christmas Present from Susan: a visit to Ladew gardens, followed by supper at Susan's house. Bucky joined the ladies and they all enjoyed their tour of the gardens. Loie was inspired by the beautiful nooks and little places, and now wants Bucky to make the Mossy Glade more formal. After supper, Loie and Susan went across the street to a neighbors to visit kittens. Upon thier return, Loie and Susan were effusive in their praise of the new neighbor kittens. Bucky had a sinking feeling.
Sunday the 3rd and Saturday the 9th of June were a wonderful coincidence: the Lovebunnies had two visits with Mary Ellen and Mark. The first was for brunch at Mary Ellen and Mark's house downtown, with many friends and relations, followed by the Charles Village Garden Tour. Loie and Bucky saw Amy and Mike Lee at the garden festival, and Lisa, Miles and their new baby on the walk. Loie attended a play Center Stage in the afternoon while Bucky had a little nap at Mary Ellen and Mark's house. The very next weekend Mary Ellen and Mark came out to the Lovebunnie's house for duck dinner and Mary Ellen's dessert.
On the 12th of June the Lovebunnies had an of andventure that was also a bit of déja vue. Loie was beginning to pack to go to San Francisco for the American Library Association meeting. A fierce thunderstorm blew in and in no time the electricity was out.
"This just like when we were packing to go to the beach and there was a hurricane," said Bucky as he lit the oil lamps.
"I'm getting tired of packing in the dark," said Loie. "Once was enough." Luckily the power came back on at about ten p.m. so Loie could set her alarm clock. She was off in the morning and spent the next seven days working and touring in one of her favorite cities.
By the middle of July, Tictoc had been adopted well enough that he had been to the vet's for shots, although Loie was still trying to find him a home. Bucky's sinking feeling was coming true!
The Lovebunnies had two stray cats for one day. Loie came home early on the 26th and she and Bucky decided to go out to supper.
"What was that?" Bucky asked as they drove up the outer slope. Loie thought they had seen a screech owl perched on one of the fenceposts to their left. They realised it was a tiny tabby kitten, wet and dirty, crying as it clung to the top of the post. The Lovebunnies rescued the bedraggled kitten.
"Its name is Topcat," said Loie as they drove back up the lane to the house.
"Ah," said Bucky, "Because we found it…"
"Exactly," said Loie. Topcat spent the night in the cat carrier, and ate and slept. The next day Loie took Topcat kitten to work, and found it a new home. But the Lovebunnies were sad to hear a few days later that poor Topcat did not survive.
"What is it with people?" said Bucky. "Somebody just dumped that little cat out here and it died. Do the bums think a tiny kitten is going to live out in the woods with no mother to teach it?"
"I don't know," said Loie. "I really don't know."
July was turning into a month to remember. The day Loie had gotten Topcat a home, she and Bucky got the dreaded late night phone call. Yo was calling them, apologising for waking them so early in the morning. It was about two o'clock on Saturday morning.
"But I hope you won't mind coming down and taking me to the hospital," Yo said. "Because I can't breathe…" and her voice began to fade as she explained very politely that she did not want an ambulance taking her to Northwest Hospital. Loie later said to Bucky, "You were driving really fast."
"And thinking all the time, 'Dont't die, Yo.' " said Bucky. He had been driving close to ninety miles an hour up Route 140 on the way to the hospital. "But I figured if we got stopped, Yo would be a good excuse for speeding." Luckily Yo made it to the hospital. At about six a.m. the emergency room decided to admit her, as she had a temperature of almost 102° and double pneumonia.
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