Fun twist!

Camels trudge through heatwaves, rocking riders through time.
Windswept dunes hypnotize. Patters blur. Gronk’s beasty bellow breaks the spell.
His pain echos mine. Sweaty blisters on my buttocks must be golf-ball-size now.
Making camp, bowlegged tourists hobble and groan.
Under a blanket of stars, retellings blow laughter across desert sands.

“Hurry. Your father will be home from his golf game and then we’re going to get your birthday surprise.” Billy looked up from drawing stars with his new compass. The surprise was a camel ride at the zoo. Billy shrieked with laughter from his lofty perch. “Look at me!”

By Linda Vos

I awakened, smelling newly mowed backyard grass, under the stars.

Thwack.

Soon a round white golf ball sailed over the fence with the agility of a camel crossing the desert and plumped down. I imagined myself laughing, but it emerged as a doggy pant. The chase was on!