Monday was another rush through rain-slicked streets to pick up papers for the mortgage.

We’re downsizing, simplifying, reinventing ourselves. I returned to the house of our affections, where my husband was replacing rotten siding on the garage. There in the open yard stood two of our three dogs, watching him work. They’d pushed through the wire fencing where it was temporarily detached from the garage for the replacement of that panel, and were placidly sitting in the rain.

He hadn’t seen them push past the gate, nor had he seen the little one slip down the alley. After re-incarcerating the two, we set out in the downpour calling for her. Half a damp hour passed, and we were near despair. The sky had darkened and the intermittent rain was increasing, when I heard a deep bark down to my left. A large black dog was in his yard, calling toward the car repair shop across the street.

The sign over the door of the old white block building identified it as Haley’s Auto Service, where many a vehicle must have been put right. Entering the shop from the gloom, I saw unattended cars in various stages of undress.

The men were all gathered in one corner in a pool of yellow light, a placid black Labrador at their feet. From the center of this huddle burst the drenched Yorkie. They’d seen her on the street, they said, and coaxed her inside to safety. The pink-jeweled collar told them someone would be looking for her. I think I’ll take my car to them from now on. I think they can be trusted.

Nan Slaughter

Bowling Green

Coach Holt was a good, decent man

I just want to honor a great man who passed Sunday.

I come from a single mom family that grew up in the early-mid 1980s. We were a lower class family, mainly because my dad died at a very young age. I could have turned to drugs in junior high and high school, but there were two men who played the father figure for me, my junior high basketball coach, Larry Holt, and my high school baseball coach, Steve Long. They were both very tough, loving, fair and most of all they were honest.

They understood that someone like me needed sports to stay out of trouble. I later ran into Coach Holt this year when I decided to umpire high school baseball. He was still the caring man that I met 23 years earlier. I told him that I had a autistic child and he was still trying to find a way to help me out.

My brother and I have grown up to be respectful contributors to this community. Single moms, I have one word of advice, let your kids get hooked up with a great coach and mentor and they can make it in this world. Coach Holt, you will be missed, but not forgotten.

Robert Creek

Bowling Green

Funds could’ve gone to orchestra, festival

I am a 12-year-old girl resident of Bowling Green and currently attend Drakes Creek Middle School.

I was just wondering why we have to spend so much money on the skatepark, when we could have spent some of that money toward something everyone can enjoy?

I am not against the skatepark, I think it’s an addition to Bowling Green, but why do we have to take away the budget for things like the International Festival and the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra?

I know there are some kids that will enjoy the skatepark, but thousands of people enjoy things like the festival and the orchestra, so why doesn’t the city want to support them?

Geena Newstat

Bowling Green