A Distant Bark Muffled only by Time...

"...a big treeee!"
"Yup."
"A super big tree huh dad!"
"That's right buddy, a big ole' tree huh?"
"Ya ... is it a 'pom' tree daddy?"
"Well bud, it's a 'palm' tree, yes... where'd you learn that at?"
"Germy."
"Germy? What's germy?"
"My friend from school."
"Oh... wait, his name's 'Germy'?"
"Ya."
"You sure?"
"Ya. Germy Lopez."
"Bud, you mean 'Jeremy'?"
"Ya."
"Okay buddy, there we go. Hey, speaking of school, what did you guys do today?"
"We, huh, watched a video on bears... then we eated' lunch, and I don't like mommy's egg salad sandwich daddy; it smells bad and it tastes' yuck."
"Well, I'll be certain to tell her bud. What else did you guys do?"
"Dad, look at the dog in that car! He's in the front seat!"
"Hey, you're right dude! He look like he's a real person sitting there huh bud?"
"Ya. Did you used ta' let Dusty ride in the car like that dad?"
"Oh sometimes, but he liked to ride in the back of my pickup mostly... you're mom didn't like him riding in the car much because he'd lick the dashboard when he wasn't hanging half out the window or crawling on my lap when I was trying to drive."
"That's funny dad."
"Yep. He was a funny dog."
"I remember Dusty dad."
"You do? You were pretty young then."
"Ya. He would lick me when I was little."
"Well, you're still little bud, but ya, he'd try to sit on you too."
"Aww, that's funny."
"Yes it was."
"Dusty was your dog or mom's dog daddy?"
"He was mine, I had him when your mom and I met then when we got married Dusty was our kid until this little trouble-maker came along!"
"Ahhhh, that's tickles dad!"
"Naw, you're a good dude bud."
"Are we gonna get another dog dad?"
"I don't know pal, maybe in a few years."
"why?"
"Why? I don't know. I would just like to wait a few years."
"Is it because you miss Dusty dad?"
"Um, a little yes."
"Did you love Dusty dad?"
"Well ... Yes I did bud, quite a bit."
"How come you're crying dad?"
"Hey, c'mon now, I'm not crying.."
"Oh."
"... I'm just getting' a little emotional pal."
"It's okay to miss Dusty huh dad?"
"Yep. It sure is bud. It's okay."
"...I love you dad."
"Well... thanks buddy! I love you too!"