“What does domestic mean, Mom?”
“It has to do with home. Why do you ask?”
“See that sign? It says, ‘Domestic animals.’ So a domestic animal lives in a home? Don’t all animals have homes?”
“Yes, but a domestic animal lives in a people home.”
“Like a dog?”
“Yes.”
“Like a cat?”
“Yes.”
“Like a mouse?”
“Hmmm… well, that depends. If the mouse is a pet in a cage, I suppose it’s domestic, but if it’s living in the walls of the house and raiding out cereal cupboard, it’s not.”
“Do people put mouses on leashes?”
“Mice.”
“Do people put mice on leashes?”
“I’ve never seen that, but people do a lot of strange things.”
“Why can’t domestic animals go on the beach?”
“Probably because they might ‘go’ on the beach. You know, poop or something.”
“A wild animal might do that, too. I betcha wild animals DO do it.”
“Yup.”
“So if I caught a mouse that lived in the walls of the house, I could bring it to the beach and I wouldn’t get in trouble.”
“I suppose…”
“But if I made a tiny leash and put it on my pet mouse and brought it to the beach, I would get in trouble.
“AND if I caught one of those coyotes I hear howling at night and brought it to the beach, that would be okay, because coyotes are wild, right?”
“Please don’t try to catch a coyote.”
“I just want to understand the rules, Mom. Sheesh.”
Unicorn Challenge — write no more than 250 words based on the photo prompt.
Here’s the actual photo:
I used the photo feature of Google translate to read the words.
Jenne Gray had already translated the sign, though. Her translation: ‘Domestic animals, even on leads, are banned from the beach from 6h – 21h’.
It still begs the question of wild animals.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
“I just want to understand the rules, Mom.” Good luck with that one, kiddo. Loved your playing with the idea, Sally. Not lame. Gold lamé. 🙂
Aw, thank you! It was fun.
That child is destined for a big future. I think as a lawyer. This made me chuckle.
Lawyer, for sure! He picks the whole thing apart with such ease just by trying to understand it.
Very funny. Kid’s got all the right questions and answers. He coulda been OJ’s lawyer. Really good one!
You’re right. He should be a lawyer when he grows up!
Lovebtge conversation ! But I agree with the child you can’t stop wild animals from fowling places were pets are not allowed so it a nonsense rule 🤔
Total nonsense, I agree.
We went down the same road here, Sally, and you did it with great humour!
Haven’t read yours yet! Must go do it now!
love the ping-pong dialogue…
excellent spin. well-returned… she’s out-of-position no! wait ! save!
;p
Do you know how many words I saved by leaving out the “he said” “she said” parts? That 250 word limit is such a bugger.
Kid asked great questions! I want to understand the rules, too!
Don’t we all! Kids operate from a platform where all questions are fair game. Somehow, when we get older, we lose that.
What a delightful conversation, I could hear it as I read it! I wish I could find a way of ridding my local beach of seagulls, the messy little thieves!
Ah, seagulls! Now there’s a conversation to imagine. “MINE” “MINE MINE” “MINE MINE MINE”
What smooth wordplay with the sounds and different meanings of the words, Sally.
Not lame, you silly dame! (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.)
And such a realistic young person you’ve created.
It’s an excellent story.
Thank you.
Between us, I WAS that kid who drove my mother crazy with questions ALL THE TIME.
Your secret’s safe with me! I was that child too. I remember the day I discovered you could ask ‘why’ to almost any answer! My big sister (by 9 years) came close to throttling me!
Those are the best kids ever. Proving that the best signs are in plain language, e.g. No dogs allowed on this beach.
Aww, a cute story
Thank you, Sadje!
You’re welcome
Kids certainly give you a new perspective on things…don’t they? 💞
Yes, kids give us LOTS of perspective. I spent so many years with kids that it’s easy for me to imagine conversations like this.
Sometimes the lines between domestic and pet are are obscured!