Scout loved going to baseball games. He had gone to games when he was a puppy, and now as a father, he was including his family in his joy of baseball. His son, Skipper, was not a huge sport fan but was quite the artist. Scout tried to include Skipper in baseball chatter at their home and at the game, even barking to his son, “Skip, you are missing a great game here. What are you drawing that is more important than following the game?”
Rookie and Dozier, neighborhood friends of Scout and his family, stopped by on the way back to their seats to chat. “Hey, Scout-A-Roo,” yelped Dozier, “why the long face big guy?” Scout barked back at Dozier, “my son the cartoonist has his back turned to the field, while the play is over here, right son?” nudging his son a bit. “Scout, what’s up little dude,” barked Rookie, “what are you working on there Picasso?” Skipper stopped to show his dad, Rookie, and Dozier the cartoon sketch of the game and the dog friends were so impressed.
Soon, Nora and Scout’s wife Lola joined the group, all checking out Skipper’s work. “Wow, look at the detail,” barked Nora. “Yeah, isn’t that your favorite player, Scout?” added Lola. Scout laughed and was immediately so proud of Skipper and disappointed in himself for not recognizing his son’s talent sooner. His cartoon drawing son had drawn quite the crowd himself. Skipper continued to draw the baseball game scene while the neighborhood dog friends watched in anticipation of his next sketch.
A call came in from the nearby home team dugout. It was Scout’s favorite player, the one Skipper was drawing, Designated Hitter and All-Star Ernie Wilson. “Hey what’s happening in the stands?” Scout and Lola looked at Skipper, then Rookie barked out, “this kid drew a perfect likeness of you, want to see?” Ernie Wilson nodded and motioned Skipper to come down to the dugout. He took one look at the photo, then grabbed a pen from his bench coach, and signed the picture for Skipper. What a cool moment for Scout and his family!
Dozier yelped out, “hey friends, let’s get a camera and get a picture together to remember this moment.” Nora, tapping Dozier on the shoulder and motioning to Skipper barked, “why get a camera when we got a Skipper.” The neighborhood dog friends all chuckled and set up portrait style to be sketched by Skipper. Scout and Lola nodded to each other that encouraging Skipper’s art was going to be front and center from here on out. And from the looks of the sketch, Skipper has a bright future as an artist.
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