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| The Lassie Dog |
As Kevin sat intently in front of the old 19 inch Zenith
television set with rabitt ears' and poor reception, his
mother watched her little seven year boy move almost
theatrically as he cheered Lassie on. "Go get 'em girl, go
get 'em!" He'd look forward to each episode as Lassie would
save the day on each and every airing of this show.
His mother had memorized Kevin's question as it was sure to
follow at the end of every episode of "Lassie." Per usual,
he quickly spun around while sitting 'Indian Style' on the
floor and asked, "Mom?, Can I have a Lassie dog? Please
mom!?"
As she gazed into into his eager eyes she replied, "Honey,
I'd love to give you a dog like Lassie, but I've said it
before--dogs like Lassie like to be outside and run."
Desperately trying to convince him she added, "Kevin, I have
told you over and over again that our yard is too small for
a Lassie dog!"
Kevin appeared pensive for a moment and then excitingly
exclaimed, "I have an idea mom! I'll teach the Lassie dog to
stay by me all of the time so she won't get lost or hurt!"
His mother appeared surprised that Kevin could creatively
think on his feet so quickly. "That's a really neat idea
sweetheart, but Lassie is what's known as a Collie and you
can't teach a Collie to stay by your side all of the time
because they're outside dogs and I'm afraid your Lassie dog
would run away.
Do you understand what I'm saying honey?" Kevin looked down
and was clearly disappointed by what he felt was his last
ditch effort to gain his mother's favor as it would relate
to his getting his youthful mind's hero--a dog and friend
like Lassie.
Months passed and Kevin stopped asking his mother whether or
not he could get a dog like Lassie. She noticed his
increasing quietness and sadness with each passing episode
and thought back to her childhood. Her parents surprised her
one Christmas with a little scrounge mutt that she adored.
She got this ugly little dog that Christmas when she was
about her son's age and the guilt of not allowing Kevin to
have a dog to be his best friend finally got to her. One
afternoon after yet another episode of "Lassie", she
decided, right or wrong, to give in to Kevin's earlier
repeated desire to have a dog of his own. "Kevin?", she
asked, "How about us going down to the dog pound today and
getting you a dog?
The dog won't be as pretty as Lassie, but I know we can find
a dog that you'd love." Kevin's eyes lit up like a 50 watt
bulb with no lamp shade as he exclaimed, "Really mom?! Yes,
I don't care anymore about getting a Lassie dog! Can we go
now?", he enthusiastically asked. "We sure can honey! Put
your shoes on and let's go on down to the dog pound and find
you the perfect dog!" Kevin jumped up and hurriedly put his
shoes on and headed directly to the car.
Upon arriving at the dog pound, she asked the old man who
ran the shelter which dog out of all of the dogs there would
be the most loyal and well trained dog for her eager little
boy. Without a moment's pause, the man replied, "Oh, that's
an easy question to answer. Follow me back and I'll show you
the perfect dog for your son." Kevin and his mother followed
the old man back to the last cage on the right.
"There she is ma'am. This would be the dog I'd choose and
I'd already have her myself but we have a half-dozen dogs at
home and just don't have room for "Fire." She was taken back
as she looked at this homely dog with little hair as the mutt
looked like she had been badly burned. After she got over
the initial shock of such a sight, she asked, "Has this dog
been burned and are you sure this would be the right dog for
Kevin?"
The old man looked at Kevin and noticed his eyes were
misting with tears. "Oh I'd bet my life on it ma'am!", he
confidently replied. "Ma'am?", he inquired, "Did you not
hear about the dog that laid on top of the little girl
during the forest fire up on Red Bird Mountain? This was the
dog that they featured in the local paper. This rascal saved
the little girl's life and just about lost her own by
covering that little girl with her body!"
She thought for a bit and answered, "Well of course I did!
Are you telling me that this is that dog?" "Yes, it sure is.
No one has taken her because of how she looks and I would
have put her to sleep but it's hard to end a life that saved
one!", he somberly replied. "Do you want this dog Kevin?
Sounds like you'd have yourself a hero like Lassie if we
brought her home." Kevin's eyes had full-blown tears in them
now.
"I want her mom! Can we take her back with us?" She quickly
glanced at the old man who was moved to tears himself at
this point. "She's ours sweetheart."
They took "Fire" home and she never left Kevin's side and
was his constant companion--never once even attempting to
leave the yard or run out of the gate if mistakenly left
open. Every night Kevin would say his prayers when his
mother would tuck him in and he never failed to pray that
"Fire" would be healed and get her hair back.
After about five weeks, Kevin's constant prayers were
obviously being answered as the once terribly disfigured
mutt's hair rapidly began to grow back. Perhaps it was Kevin
and his mother's imagination, but the more "Fire's" hair
grew back, the more she resembled Lassie.
Kevin's mother opted to call the old man at the dog pound as
her curiosity was overwhelmingly piqued. "Hello," the old
man responded on the other end of the phone, "Corbin County
dog pound. My name is Joe and how can we help you today?"
"Hi Joe, I came in a month or so ago with my son and we got
the dog you named "Fire."
"Yes ma'am, he replied happily, "I'm glad you called...been
wondering how old "Fire" has been doing. How can I help
you?" She took a deep breath and asked, "Well Joe, I'm
curious about just one thing and thought you might know the
answer. What kind of mutt is 'Fire'?"
The old man softly chuckled before replying. "Ma'am", 'Fire'
isn't a mutt." Confused she continued, "If she's not a
mutt,
what kind of dog is she?" He chuckled again and replied,
"Fire's momma' and daddy are both show dogs. 'Fire' is a
full-bred Collie."
-- Brian G. Jett |
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