42097609460

29
August rolled in, and although Alex and Katie were enjoying the
hot, slow summer days they spent together, the kids were
beginning to get bored. Wanting to do something unusual, Alex
took Katie and the kids to see the rodeo monkeys in Wilmington.
Much to Katie’s disbelief, it turned out to be exactly what it
sounded like: monkeys, dressed in cowboy outfits, rode dogs and
herded rams for almost an hour before a show of fireworks that
rivaled the Fourth of July. On their way out, Katie turned toward
him with a smile.
“That has to be the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” she said, shaking
her head.
“And you probably thought we lacked culture in the South.”
She laughed. “Where do people come up with these ideas?”
“I have no idea. But it’s a good thing I heard about it. They’re in
town for only a couple of days.” He scanned the parking lot for
his car.
“Yes, it’s hard to imagine how unfulfilling my life would have
been had I never seen monkeys riding dogs.”
“The kids liked it!” Alex protested.
“The kids loved it,” Katie agreed. “But I can’t figure out whether
the monkeys liked it. They didn’t look all that happy to me.”
Alex squinted at her. “I’m not sure I’d be able to tell whether a
monkey was happy or not.”
“My point exactly,” she said.