It al started as a fun and very good weekend for Mackenzie. First of all because it was the weekend which meant no school. Friday after school he presented his report to his parents. And in true Border Collie style it were all positive and good results. He scored high on almost every school subject. Sure his math could have been a bit better and his social skills could improve (he liked to be on point and speak his mind and could therefore come over as rude sometimes, altough he never meant to be rude). As a reward his father took him out to see a movie at the cinema and afterwards they ate some fish and chips together.

That Saturday he first spent the morning with Bluey, her sister Bingo and mother Chili in the park while his parents were out of town because of work. This was nothing new for him. The Border Collies lived near the Heelers and when Bluey's parents couldn't get a babysitter during the day, she would mostly end up at the Collies and when his parents where both away, Mackenzie would spend the day at the Heelers playing games with Bluey at the park of the Creek. The latter only when Bandit was the supervisor. But Bandit was now abroad again for his work, but not for long. That afternoon he would come back from abroad and Bluey, Bingo and Chili would pick him up from the airport. That morning Mackenzie had a great time with the Heeler sisters. They would play different games and occasionally Chili played along with them. When it was time to go for the Heelers he thanked them with hearthfelt.

In the afternoon, Chili dropped Mackenzie off at the Russel's before heading to the airport to pick up Bandit. Mackenzie was greeted by Rusty who was also there. Rusty had prepaired lunch for him, Mackenzie and Jack. Well.. technically. He brought some army MRE'S with him he got of his dad. Rusty knew that unlike Jack, Mackenzie wasn't really keen on playing army so he thought that this maybe would interest Mackenzie in doing some army stuff for this day. Just eating like a army recruit. Luckily for him his gamble paid off because Mackenzie was indeed interested in trying this. Jack's dad decided to keep an eye on them and help them with preparing these meals and so he joined them. Rusty showed them how the bags worked and how to prepare them. After some struggling Mackenzie figured it out and had his meal ready. Jack and his dad weren't that lucky. Jack struggled really hard and when his father decided to help he burned himself when he tore his one too hard. The hot food felt out of the bag on his lap resulting him to scream so hard they could hear him in Perth. Eventually the kids all suceed and ate their food while laughing and cracking jokes before playing a match of cricket together. Ofcourse it was Rusty who would be victorious over them. At the end of the day, Mackenzie's mum picked him up and they went back home.

''So honey, did you have a nice day today?'' his mum asked in the car on their way back home.

''Yeah i did!''. Mackenzie started to tell very fast and full of enthusiasm. ''First this morning we went to the park and we played hide and seek. But Bingo found me really quick unfortunally. But in the next round i found her first, so i got her back. Bluey's mum was easy to find but Bluey is very good in hiding and won every round. But i know she must have cheated. It's not allowed to hide in trees, right? Anyway then Bluey thought of a game to play called grannies. Ofcourse i wasn't a grannie, but i was a grandpa. They named me Gerald and they gave me a walking cane a old hat.. and OH i had to wear a fake moustache''.

''Where did they get a moustache for you?'' his mother smiled.

''Easy, Bingo picked some grass and placed it under my nose'', Mackenzie laughed. 'So i was Gerald, Bluey was grannie Janet. And we where husband and wife. Then Bingo played her friend Rita and Bluey's mum played a shopkeeper. It was Rita's birthday and we decided to buy her some new can of beans''.

''Beans? What kind of a present is that for a grannie?'' His mum asked sheepisly.

''Well, Rita says she loves her beans. But it went wrong because of her dementia she kept forgetting we bought her beans and where she left them and therefore Gerald and Janet had to buy new beans everytime. And the shopkeeper wasnt happy with us at all. Mostly because Janet didn't want to pay for them. Then Bluey's mum dropped me of at Jack's house and guess what.. Rusty was there too! We had a great time. Rusty brought these backs from the military with them. They are amazing. They have food in them and when you open them it becomes instantly hot! It tastes funny but it was a good meal. That would be so handy to have don't you think?''

''Hmmm.. bags that heat themselves up. That sure does sound good. Would save me a lot of time in the kitchen. But how did Rusty get them?''

''From his dad. You know, he is in the military. Jack's dad tried it too but the food fell on him. I never heard someone scream that hard. It was really hot''.

''Poor man'' Mackenzie's mum said. ''So and then you started a game of cricket? How did it go?''.

''Well nothing new. Rusty all beat us. But one day, maybe i'll beat him. But it was fun''.

''And that's the most important thing, don't you think?''

''Yeah mum. It is''.

The car then stopped in front of their home and both collies gout out and walked inside. When Mackenzie walked into the kitchen, he smelled that his dad had cooked diner. It was a simple dish, just some beef with a portion potatoes and some coleslaw with his home made cheese sauce. Altough it was simple, Mackenzie really liked simple dishes like this and how his father would make them. It was simple, delicious and enough for him. The family sat together and ate their meal.

''So family, tomorrow is family day'' his dad said to him and his wife. Family day was something the Border Collies introduced years ago. Every two weeks Mackenzie and his parents would go out and go somewhere to see something or to do something on a sunday. Sometimes it would be the beach, other times they visit a museum or a park or zoo. And other times they would just drive around and see where they ended to stop and walk around. ''So, who's got a idea for tomorrow?'' his dad asked.

Mackenzie started to think, but there was so much to choose from that he couldn't decide what to do. She he let his parents decide as that would be easier for him. ''I would like seeing the botanic gardens'' Mackenzie's mum eventually said. ''I never been there and a colleague of work, Frisky, did i mention her to you before?'' she looked at her husband who nodded. ''Well, she said it a absolute recommendation. So.. is that alright with you two?'' Mackenzie's mother asked her husband and son. They both nodded yes. ''Then, that's what we are going to do then'' she said.

''Well, how about we first go to the beach. I would like to do that. Haven't been there for ages and my surfboard is just collecting dust in the garage. I can get her out to see if i still got it'' Mackenzie's dad said with some confident in his voice. He turned to his son; ''Ha, and you can get to dig as many holes as you want on the beach!''. Mackenzie's tail begin to wag by hearing that. ''Really? Can i?''. ''As long as you close those holes again when you finished so other dogs won't fall in'' Mackenzie's mum said.
''Okay mum''.

''Well then that's settled. First we will spent the day at the beach and in the afternoon, when it get's too hot on the beach we go to the botanic gardens.'' Mackenzie's dad happily said.
''Hurray!'' Mackenzie shouted.

The Border Collies proceded to happily eat their diner. They all looked forward to the next day. Unbeknownst to them the tragedy that would happen in just over 24 hours. This would be their final meal together, and none of them knew.