Hey folks, I said,  "27th June has been declared World Fun Day"
"Good for the world",  said the newspaper that passes for the husband on most grumpy mornings. "Whose concept of fun are they talking about?" said the daughter who is given to doses of analytical thinking
 The son who is currently off family, off fun and off the world -  roughly in that order,  said "Really. Mom! There are other things to think of besides fun"
Rufus thumped his tail hopefully projecting a strong thought to make me equate fun with biscuits …preferably chocolate cream…imported.
"How about a spot of bungee jumping, parasailing or some daredevil stuff"?
"You must be crazy" said newspaper.
"Moms lost it" said daughter not bothering to specify the lost item.
The son who is off jumping,off walking and off any movement more strenuous than  jabbing a remote, conserved his energy and didn't say anything.
Rufus put his head on his paws and looked bored. "You don't have a clue about having fun, do you?" he said
"What about rock climbing? What about a chakker in a microlight?"
"Oh grow up,"said newspaper
"Puhleeeze," said daughter. "You will be the first person to get airsick and throw up."
The son who is off the great outdoors, off going anywhere and off it all, said an alarmed "Omigod."
"Well then let’s explore your concept of fun. Lets go to a smelly, smoke filled disco and  get audio impaired for life"
"This is becoming a harangue " said newspaper belligerently
"In case you haven't noticed, discos are defunct" said daughter.
The son who is off  the great indoors off dancing, and off music said a plaintive heartrending omigod pleading for divine deliverance from fun-day fundas.
 Rufus disapproved because discos do not encourage dogs. "Count me out, "he said, "You do  have strange ideas of fun!"
"How about a walk in the rain and some hot corn on the cob by the roadside?"
"What! And get viral fever! " said the newspaper, aghast.
The daughter put her head down on the table and wept. The son who is off food, off rain and off all things roadside said “omigod”. Rufus said, "Throw in  a good bone dig and I am game"
"How about if we call our friends and organise a potluck….  good food, good conversation and fun".
"And a good hangover the next day, " said the newspaper.
"Didn't we have a party just two years ago?"said daughter
The son who is off parties, off people and seriously off potluck said a despairing omigod.
"How about dinner at a place with eighteen pieces of cutlery, unpronounceable dishes and snooty waiters who know their Merlot from their Mantovani"?
"So I pay the GNP of Bangladesh and come home and fill up on bread and butter..sorry" said newspaper.
"Count me out" said daughter "I am on a diet."
 The  son who is off friends, off food and off conversation left the room in silent satyagrahic  protest. Rufus gave me his famous I-didn't-expect-this-of-you-traitor-you look.
Given a set of damp towels for family, I sat back and figured that if any fun was to be had on World Fun Day I had to have it by myself.  So Rufus and I went for a romp in the rain. He got bitten on the ear by a territorial dog who hadn't been told it was World Fun day. I twisted my ankle on a pothole which also  didn't know it was World Fun day. Among other things we both came back with massive colds.
"Which dum dum", said  Rufus, sneezing  to make  the windows rattle, "started this whole fun day shun day business anyway?"