Which one's the bitch? Andrew
2008/4/30 Max Richards <[log in to unmask]>:
> The Battle of Ruffey Creek Bridge
>
> Exchanging minimal good-mornings
> with the lady with the grizzled blue heeler
> (noting her American accent),
> I felt a strong lurch on the leash of my young Lab,
> and it left my hand, trailing behind him
> as he neared the heeler, signalling
> Play with me please.
> But the heeler signalled No way,
> and curved off down the hill, pressed by my pup,
> vanishing onto the footbridge.
> We stared after them.
>
> A skirmish took place there,
> my pup left the bridge
> and raced back up to me,
> his leash trailing wet in the morning dew.
>
> The lady went down to her dog, inspected it,
> called back up to me ŒHoy, hoy!¹ Then
> ŒI want your name and phone number. My dog is limping.¹
> ŒMy name is Max, and I live at number eleven,¹
> I said pointing. We turned for home, to tell the mistress,
> and show off one bleeding forepaw.
>
> Next day the doorbell rang. The owner,
> not his American house-guest, with the vet¹s bill.
> Torn cruciate ligament. Our responsibility.
> We were polite, appalled at the bill, its total
> (almost fifteen hundred dollars), its details.
>
> Our pup? The bill is in our hands,
> we¹re asking round for advice.
>
> Wednesday 30 April 2008
>
> Max Richards
> Doncaster, Victoria
>
>
--
Andrew
http://hispirits.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aburke/
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