My pool vs. the Hoover Dam

It's the biggest civil engineering project since the Hoover Dam.

That's what Dad says. He's talking about the installation of my pool this year.

The first two years we had the pool, it was on a slanted part of the back yard, so the pool was tilted. As a result, we couldn't fill the pool completely. So, I when I used the pool, I did as much "porpoising" as swimming. (For those of you are who aren't experts at swimming like me, this means you bounce off the bottom.) I had fun. But the pool did not meet the standards of Mom and Dad. I'm glad that I have parents with high standards--at least when it comes to important things.

So this year, Dad bought two cubic yards of dirt and spread out the dirt on the lower part of the area where the pool goes. This made a level platform for the pool. Then yesterday, Mom and Dad set up the pool and filled it. Smoothing out the bottom of the pool takes a long time. It was said that if either of my Grandpas had been there, there would have been foul language. But there were no fouls with just Dad and Mom around.

I didn't realize what was going on. Was that really a swimming pool? Who ever heard of filling a swimming pool in Wisconsin on April 16?

But today when we got back from a long, hot walk, I knew what that pool was all about. At first, I was reluctant to get in. Mom tried to entice me in by throwing my big stick into the pool so I'd fetch it. But I fooled her. I got the stick out of the pool from the side, without getting into the pool.

It didn't take long for me to work up the courage to plunge in. The pool is taller than last year, because it has more water in it. But a powerful jumper such as myself can overcome difficulties like that.

Soon I was swimming and swimming, barking and biting the water. Thanks, Mom and Dad. And you, too, President Hoover.