Before I get started on this story from December, I wanted to let you know that I have been talking a lot around the house lately since I haven’t been able to express myself in this forum for the last few weeks due to the inattention of my scribe. This includes reprimanding my brother for sitting in spots that I want to make myself comfortable in or if he is chewing a bone that I think should be in my mouth. Then there are all those dogs who dare to go for a walk in front of MY house. Or those delivery people (mail, boxes, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.) who come to our front door. For some reason when the latter shows up my Mom rolls off the couch and onto the floor and Dad dashes to be out of sight while Sammy and I team up and bark protectively at the door. During our outbursts we take turns to go check on our parents in case they weren’t aware these people were at the door. Not sure what is wrong with them. Sam and I definitely relate more to the guys in the show we are currently binge watching on Netflix. The characters in Sons of Anarchy answer the door with a loaded gun behind their backs – which seems totally reasonable to us…you never know what is on the other side of the door and what they might be packing. I suppose hiding does accomplish the same thing in the end but it doesn’t suit our canine sensibilities.
Anyhow, today I managed to get some time on the old guys calendar and decided I’d tell you about a couple of instances where Sammy and I helped each other out of some jam or other we found ourselves in.
The first near disaster occurred on Christmas Eve in Michigan. On this occasion, my cousins daughter Eva was going to be coming over and since she is under 15 years of age there was concern Sammy wouldn’t behave himself in her presence. For some reason my parents seem to think he doesn’t like kids and they don’t want him teaching me that they are actually little terrors. I personally love the little ones as you may recall from my previous stories (Fan Club). The decision was made to confine us to a room and force me to spend the evening in a brand new crate – apparently they did believe I would behave myself in this room if I was free to move about. I begrudgingly got into the crate (or was tricked by the kong filled treat) and was left in the room with Sammy as people started to arrive for the party. Trapped as we were, we could not be there at the door to greet people, which I have already discussed is not a part of our ethos…so we started barking in protest. This got my Dad to come in to quiet us and it was evident to him that I was unhappy and a bit worked up (it being hot in the room despite it being December).
He gave us another treat – which we ate up with no complaints – and opened the window behind me to cool us down. The he LEFT again. Me still in the crate! And the party in full swing!!!
There we sat. Me getting more and more agitated which got Sammy to barking with his normal gruff voice. Then he did something that almost brought a tear to my eye. He barked with panic in his voice which alerted my parents that there may be something really wrong. What a good big brother. Dad came in and found me very distraught.
I had not only pulled the blanket they had left Sammy to lie on but I was panting and had started emitting my stressed smell. Action had to be taken. Dad got my leash on and took me outside for a walk to calm me down. Being out of the crate helped and I always love a walk but when we returned to the house and it was clear that I was headed back to the dungeon I started wigging out again. After a short discussion between my parents and the rest of the crowd it was decided that Sam and I could join the party if we stayed on our leashes, I had my buzz collar on, and Sammy was kept away from the little one. WIN-WIN if you ask me. Sammy had helped us break out of that prison and I got to hang with Eva.
While Sammy totally ignored her.
The only part that I didn’t like was when I was on a short leash and Eva was playing, laughing, and running about. See I couldn’t ensure her safety while restrained.
Turns out she was safe and I was not derelict in my duties. And, since we were out during the present exchange I got to help open some!
The second occasion was after we had arrived in the mountains of New Mexico. While Dad slept and Mom was doing things on her computer Sammy and I were outside enjoying the mountain air. Instead of sitting on the back porch or playing in the backyard where we could go in and out of the open back door something attracted our attention to the front of the house. This requires us to walk on rather rocky terrain which doesn’t bother me so much but really irritates Sammy’s old paw pads. So much so he sometimes refuses to walk back around the house to the open door. Which is exactly what happened. He did his bark thing to get the attention of either of our parents but to no avail. I saw he needed help and after all I did owe him big time for Christmas Eve. So I took it upon myself to alert someone to the fact that the front door needed opening for the old guy.
Unfortunately neither Sammy or I had our iPhones so there is no videos or photos of what I did next so I’ll just have to try and explain it and use an old photo as a prop. Maybe, I should start with what my mother later related to my father when explaining what happened
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“‘Tis some visiter,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”
OK. This is really from The Raven by Mr. EA Poe but it is essentially what happened. Well if your replace chamber door with kitchen window. See I was outside with Sammy who was imprisoned on the front porch – well maybe more incapable (whether physically or emotionally I can only guess) of getting back to the back door and into the house where the food and water were stored. Looking around for something to assist him I noticed the kitchen window. Maybe I could throw a rock through it and then lift Sammy up and through it to thereby gaining access to the interior of the house. I decided I better look in through the window first to ensure that this plan would work. Which is when I noticed that our mother was sitting there on the couch not 15 feet away. Maybe I could get her attention somehow prior to implementing my original plan. I reached up and with my long nails (yep – still not letting them clip my nails and only chew on them when they get too long) started tapping on the window. Softly at first: tap, tap. Then a little louder: TAP, TAP. And as Sammy’s barking appeared more agitated I upped my game. TAP, TAP, TAP…TAP, TAP, TAP! I even tried using Morse Code (dot, dot, dot…dash, dash, dash…dot, dot, dot) to alert her to the fact that this was an emergency. I assume this worked as she finally looked up from her spot on the couch and saw me looking at her through the window and tapping on the window which motivated her to come and let Sammy in. I got a “good girl” from Mom and a tip of the head from Sammy as he went in, letting me know I had repaid my debt.
PROP LEGEND: That is the window behind Sammy that I tapped on. Good thing I have grown so tall since they brought me into the pack way back when. Obviously, during Sammy’s ordeal he wasn’t chillin’ on the porch like he is in this photo, but hopefully it gives you a visual sense of what I described.
Afterwards, Sammy and I were talking about these two events and we determined that it isn’t a 1:1 debt that needs to be paid off but that it is important that we always have each other’s back when we are in a precarious situation. It is a comforting thought that he is there for me. I certainly hope that each of you have someone like Sammy in your life!
More soon…promise.
The Tempest
Montana Moments 