Bobby stood in the kitchen doorway, peering at the two little boys lying on the hardwood floor side by side, staring at the television in the den.

Eight-year old Dean lay on his stomach with his chin propped up on the heel of one hand, his legs bent at the knees, ankles crossed. His four-year old brother lay on his back facing the TV, hands behind his head and knees bent so his feet were planted on the floor.

Turning his back to the boys, Bobby went to the refrigerator and took a can of Coors out. He popped the tab and took a gulp of beer before closing the door. Instantly a sweat of condensation coated Bobby's beer can, the dewdrops sliding into his beard.

"Hey boys," he called to the two kids numbing their minds with Saturday morning cartoons, "What d'ya say I set up the sprinkler in the backyard and we go outside?"

Dean lifted his head, "Cool! Let's do it!"

"Yeah!" Sammy piped up and got to his feet.

Bobby chuckled, "Go and get your trunks on and I'll get the sprinkler ready."

"Are you going to play with us, Uncle Bobby?" Sammy asked, big hazel eyes turned to the hunter.

"Why not?" Bobby said, "I'll see you two outside."

He smiled as the boys ran from the living room, Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd long forgotten, and pounded upstairs to their room to change.

Carrying his beer with him, Bobby left the kitchen and crossed the den, pausing at the patio doors that led into the backyard. The doors, spattered with dirt, hadn't been opened in ages and stuck a little when Bobby pulled them open. The backyard was pretty mangy looking but he knew the boys wouldn't notice; dry yellow grass poked bravely through cracked dirt, and the hunter quickly scanned the area to ensure there were no pieces of scrap metal or broken glass tiny running feet might step on.

Satisfied that the yard was kid-safe, Bobby left his beer on the old rickety picnic table that sat near the patio door and headed around the side of the house for the garden hose and sprinkler.

As Bobby held the sprinkler in one hand and coiled the hose around his arm with the other, he heard the patio door creak open and slam shut.

"Hey Uncle Bobby, we're ready!" he heard Dean call from around the corner.

"Where's the water?" little Sammy piped up.

"It's coming," Bobby sighed a laugh, "Hold yer horses boys, I ain't as young as I used to be."

Coming around the corner of the house, he saw Dean sitting at the picnic table, Sam standing just behind him on the tabletop.

"I'll set this up on the lawn so the grass can get some water," the veteran hunter said told the boys.

"YEAH!" Sammy cried and jumped from the table, startling Bobby for a moment, but the four-year old landed on his feet.

"Whoa, that was fun!" the boy cried and turned to clamber back onto the picnic table.

His brother stopped him with a hand on his arm, "Bobby's almost ready with the sprinkler, Shrimp."

Chagrinned, Sam nodded and hurried over to Bobby.

"Hurry up!" the little boy demanded as the hunter as he attached the sprinkler to the end of the garden hose.

"Hang in there, kiddo," Bobby said good-naturedly, "It's nearly ready."
The four-year old impatiently stared at the sprinkler, moving from one foot to the other. Straightening up, Bobby spoke.

"Now all's left to do is turn-" he stopped mid-sentence as water squirted out of the sprinkle, splashing him.

Sam shouted happily and darted through the droplets.

"Dean!" Bobby called as the eight-year old ran out from around the side of the house. The boy stopped, staring at the man nervously. He opened his mouth to speak but Bobby spoke first.

"Ya could have waited, son," he chuckled, and looked down as Sam tugged on the hem of his shirt.

"Chase me, Uncle Bobby!" Sam called, running circles around him.

Shaking his head, Bobby obliged, making sure he stayed just behind the four-year old.

Dean joined in the fun, chasing after both Bobby and his brother, splashing through the water and laughing.

SPN

Later that evening, as the sun began to go down, Bobby sat outside on the picnic table on the patio, beer in hand, staring at the backyard.

His gaze fell to the green garden hose and sprinkler, a large puddle of mud trampled into the grass beneath it and smiled to himself.

Author's Note:

I hope you enjoyed this story, readers and have a safe and happy summer!

Please feel free to leave a review if you like.