~ posted by Betsy
This
is the story of a dog named Flash…an angry horse…five children who
disappeared…and southern hospitality.
Early
one afternoon, Rubia was outdoors performing canine ministry on one of the
neighbor’s dogs. Poor “Tough” spends all his time outdoors, and his
burr-infested coat lends testimony to this. Rubia had taken one of our dog
grooming combs and was patiently combing out as many of the burrs as she could.
Nearby,
our other neighbor’s basset hound, “Flash,” watched the proceedings. Before
long, he became restless at Tough’s unavailability, and looking around for some
other amusement, he spotted…the Horse.
Poor
unsuspecting equine came strolling across his field, stopping close to the
cattle fence. Flash’s tail twitched. With gleaming eye, he propelled his stout,
furry body through the fence, oblivious to the barbed wire, and approached Horse.
He began barking, and nipping, and weaving playfully between the horse’s legs.
Soon he was joined by Tough and Cowboy, and all three dogs took up the teasing
game with gusto.
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Photo
Credit: Ben.
|
Horse
had enough. Snorting furiously, he whipped around, legs and tail flying. A
canine scream filled the air, as Horse’s leg smacked against a small, long
basset body. A second leg flattened Flash even closer to the ground than he
usually is. Moaning, Flash took off, limping and yelping, dragging himself in
the general direction of his home two ranches away.
Needless
to say, Rubia was convinced Flash had gone off to die. I gently assured her
that he would probably be fine, other than having a sore body and a bruised
ego. In any case, I pointed out, he had surely learned his lesson and would
think twice about taking on a horse hereafter.
Later
that evening, Josiah approached me as I stirred the dinner macaroni. “Mom, Flash hasn’t come around ALL DAY. You
know he’s ALWAYS here!” His large brown eyes searched my face, long lashes
blinking rapidly. “Do you think I could
just ride my bike down the road to Flash’s house, and just see if I see him
anywhere around? Please??” I agreed that he could go, if he took one of his
siblings with him…and came quickly right
back home.
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Photo
Credit: Roma.
|
So
Josiah and Roma jumped on their bikes and headed down the country road toward
Mr. H’s farm. I covered the macaroni and cheese and pulled green beans out of
the freezer. A short while later, Josiah and Roma returned. “We didn’t see him anywhere!” they chorused in alarm. By now, the
western sky was aflame with fuschia and gold—a glorious Texan sunset.
The
absence of Flash from our home for longer than 15 minutes could only mean the
worst. Ever since we moved here in December, that dog forgot he already had a
home; not to mention a mate and pups. This absence was monumental, and must be
explained. I agreed to another expedition…this time, Josiah and Roma and Rubia
would all ride together to Mr. and Mrs. H’s farm, traverse the long winding
dirt lane up to the farmhouse, knock on the door, and explain the events of the
day to Flash’s owners. Surely they would appreciate knowing what had happened
to their precious pup, who undoubtedly was lying in a mangled heap in their
barn, barely breathing, if at all. The three amigos agreed to deliver the
message…and come quickly right back
home.
Ben
strolled into the kitchen awhile later as I cautiously pulled steamed beans out
of the microwave. “What’s for dinner?”
he asked. I told him. He smacked his lips in approval. “Where is everybody, anyway?” I explained about the biking trio.
Bianca looked up from her ipod. “Isn’t it
getting really dark out?”
I
glanced out the back window and my eyes widened. “Oh, my word! How did it get so dark so fast?!” I had visions of
my young son plowing his bike into a pecan tree in the pitch dark. Out in the
countryside, dark is DARK. No streetlights…houses farther apart than they look.
Narrow winding roads with potholes just waiting to grab your bike tires. Not
good.
“Ben, please hop on
your bike and ride out there and get your siblings!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ben strolled toward
the coat closet. I called after him, “…and come quickly right back home!”
You’re
getting the picture, aren’t you? They did not come quickly right back home. As
the macaroni cooled and the green beans wilted, I turned to Bianca in
desperation. “Could you please take the
car, drive over to the H’s, and find your siblings?!” Happy to be of
service—especially when it involves driving or meeting new people—Bianca roared
down the driveway, gravel crunching beneath the tires.
And
I waited. Poured the milks. Lit the candle. Gazed out at the blackness, fingers
strumming on the granite countertop. I opened the door, listening. No sound of
childlike voices calling in the night. No dogs barking, nor horses whinnying. No
cattle lowing. No coyotes howling. Just dark silence.
Then
I remembered that Bianca had the presence of mind to take a cell phone with
her. Oh glorious day! Two seconds later, I was on the phone with Roma. “Oh-Mommy-I’m-so-sorry-Bianca-is-just-giving-the-H’s-our-phone-number-we’ll-be-there-in-just-a-minute-so-sorry!”
And
before long, Roma whirled into the house, explanations ahead of her by ten
feet. Everyone was just fine…they were
all on their way…it was so dark! but Bianca lit the way
with the car headlights, and Mr. and Mrs. H were just the nicest people, and
did I know that three generations of family had lived in that house once upon a
time?! Mr. H. had been so happy to see them all, and he had invited them to sit
and talk awhile and it was just so hard to leave they seemed thrilled with
company. And his wife was the sister of the father of the wife of the man who
had lived in our house! And we all need to go back and visit them again soon,
right Mom?
I
listened, heart warmed by the kindness of neighbors. “What about Flash? Is he okay?”
“Flash?” Roma repeated. “Oh, Flash! Flash is just fine. He came
running to see us when we got there. I told Mr. H about him getting trampled and
he just drawled, ‘Oh, he’ll be jest fine.’ And that was that! What’s for dinner??”
I
am re-learning some lessons of country life. Well-groomed dogs are a rarity,
but joyful playful ones are plentiful. A neighbor’s dog will love you forever
if you remove a few burrs from his fur. Even the most patient of horses has his
limits, and will let you know what those are. Sturdy souls will rise again,
even when life unexpectedly kicks them down. Darkness swallows up the day
suddenly…but leaves the memory of a gorgeous sunset imprinted on your heart.
Most
importantly, if you plan to visit a neighbor, you’d best not be in a hurry. You
will be greeted with joy, welcomed inside, chatted with at length, and perhaps
fed sweet tea and pralines. You will arrive as a new acquaintance, and will
leave as a friend. And you won’t even mind the soggy dinner awaiting you…as you
stroll slowly right back home.
“Each of us is to
please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”~ Romans 15:2
