1 Short Days, Long Nights

 

  Long, thin clouds stretched across the evening sky over the Davis farm. The sun was setting, the air was cool, and all chores had been completed.

  Now there was only one thing left to do.

  Run.

  I’m Bo Davis, the Davis family farm dog. I love everything about living here, but racing is probably the number one thing I love to do.

  I love running in the woods, or through flowery meadows, or just about anywhere, really!

    I was with Comet, my foal friend, and we were about to run our final race for the evening. We stood ready at the starting line. She scraped at the ground with her hoof, and I wiggled my tail.

  Star and Grey, her parents, watched from the side.

  “On your marks… get set… GO!” Grey neighed.

  Comet and I burst into a sprint!

  We ran straight down the field, all the way to the hay bales that marked the finish line.

  I pushed my legs to move faster and faster, my eyes on those hay bales.

    But just as I thought I’d won, I saw a blur of brown fur beside me. Comet and I crossed the finish line at the exact same time!

  “Wow, Bo, that was AWESOME!” she whinnied. “I may have longer legs, but you sure are fast for a pup your size. High five!”

  I hopped into the air with my paw outstretched so she could tap it with her hoof.

       Star and Grey trotted over to us.

  “Great job, you two!” Star said, flicking her tail. “That’s your third tie in a row.”

  “And now,” Grey said, “I think it’s time for us to race home. You two ready to call it a night?”

  “Night?” I echoed. I looked up at the sky and was surprised to see it so dark already. A few stars twinkled brightly. “Whoa! Where’d the day go?”

  Star laughed. “The days are shorter now that it’s colder outside. It always happens that way, when you’re least expecting it.”

    Beside me, Comet stretched and let out a great big yawn. “I am pretty worn out. See you tomorrow, Bo?”

  “You will!” I said, wagging my tail. “Good night!”

  As they trotted back to the barn, I looked back up at the sky. Shorter days meant less time for playing. I didn’t really love that.

  But before I could think too much about it, I heard my human sister’s voice calling for me.

  “Bo! Time to come inside!” Imani shouted. She waved from our front porch.

    I bolted home and met her at the door. She reached down to scratch behind my ears.

  “Hurry in, boy,” Imani said. “Mom says a chill is coming tonight!”

  I followed Imani inside and joined the rest of my family for a delicious dinner.