Last night marks the debut of my Smokey Joe to the world. He facilitated the grilling of hot dogs, sausage, red, green, and yellow bell peppers, portabello mushrooms, and pineapple, among other things, sources say. After some short assembly and some fire know-how and matches provided by Lane, he was up and running. Coach stopped by during the incipient moments of grill time to make sure that no beer would find its ways to underage drinkers. I politely told her that our underage drinkers don’t even like beer. Indeed they did not! They wasted a half gallon container of orange-pineapple juice and another of orange-peach-mango, making for a liquids total in excess of a full gallon. It was the most action that obtrusive piece of marble had seen since it was bathed in tye-dye materials, and then bleach, and then spattered with blood, and then water.

The Smokey Joe and I plan to take our act on the road this summer. Weekend trips include Cape Cod National Seashore places such as Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach. There are, of course, other places I’d be willing to go. So, if you or someone you know would like to venture out with me and Smokey, let me know where and when. I have a car and next to no summer responsibilities.