Its been a quiet week along the lake in Sheboygan.

The leaves have fallen mostly off the trees now. The sound of high pitched humming from leaf blowers echoed through the neighborhoods.  But Mrs. Krantz still holds on to her old fashioned bamboo rake her late husband bought from the True Value store in 1964.  She claims it cleans the little front lawn she has better than the leaf blower her neighbor bought last year from Home Depot.  Plus she says, “My rake is more accurate and energy efficient.”

At Jume’s restaurant a debate was overheard between Pastor Smoot from the True Baptist Church and Father McMann from Our Lady of Sincerity Catholic Church. They sat back in the corner near the picture of Elvis.  Their discussion was over dogs and if they have souls or not. Pastor Smoot bemoaned a prayer request from a parishioner whose poodle had passed away this week. “She asked me if she’d see him in heaven or not.”

“How did you answer that one?” asked the priest.

“I couldn’t make her more depressed and tell her ‘Yes, of course, dear’ so I just said, ‘Well, we’ll just have to wait and see,” said Pastor Smoot shaking his head.

“Really, that is all you could say in her time of loss, grief and misery? Because all dogs do go to heaven,” stated the priest authoritatively.

“You’re kidding, right.  You know dogs have no souls, ” he quickly spouted as if it was gospel.

“I’m a Franciscan. We believe Jesus loves all God’s creatures great and small.  They all belong in his kingdom. In fact I believe I’ll see, Dominic,  my deceased Yellow Lab when I get to heaven!”

“Well, your theology,” stated pastor Smoot,” has no basis in biblical truth.  Just wishful thinking.”

“Have you never heard of Noah?” inquired the priest.

“What’s Noah have to do with dogs?”

“Well, if animals were brought on the Ark to continue into the the New Earth after the Flood, then it just goes to show that animals – especially man’s best friend, will be included in the new heaven and earth!”

“But dogs do not have souls!” emphasized the pastor.

“How do you know they don’t? Have you ever looked into their eyes and watched their tail wag when you came home after a long day away?  Have you not felt them draw near to you on the couch when they sensed you had a bad day?  Have you ever seen their eyes light up and run gleefully to the door when you asked, “Want to go for a walk?”

Pastor Smoot took a sip from his cup of coffee and sighed, “My Mother was allergic to dogs so growing up we never had one.  And my wife is also allergic.  So, to be honest I never had a dog.”

Father McMann reached across the table and put a hand on his shoulder. “Brother, when you get to heaven you can go for a walk with my dog, Dominic.”   The waitress slapped the check on the table. “I’ll pay for this one,” said Father McMann.

Well, that’s the news from Sheboygan along the Lake where all the women are smart, all the men are opinionated, and all the children want a puppy…