Those years I regret

Looking back I really hate myself

That adventurous young teen

That explored the woods and fields

Hoping to find butterlies

To take them home, pinning them

In a box to display the all to see

Getting lists of lists of those rare ones

That might be found in the woods

Or skimming over the ponds or streams

Just a short distant walk from home

They were of course beautiful

But not so much when they were dead

And now in my advanced years

I very much enjoy seeing them fly

Flitting over the garden flowers

Tasting the many plants nectar

But lasting little more that summer

Before time is called for them

As cool autumn says time is up

And their offspring breed next year

Clouds scudded overhead

I looked out of the window

I couldn't sleep this night

The clouds scudded overhead

The wind blowing them quietly

Moon chose to not look down on me

I looked at alarm clock

Too early to get up

Frustrated, I stretched myself

The ceiling fan hummed overhead

I heard the sea far away

I hat breaking my sleep

Preferring break of dawn

When the welcome bright gleam greets me

Sun rising over the treetops

A blackbird flew over the common

Illustration by www.pixabay.com

Rastus, Penny and me (Chapter 3)

 

Rastus had his big snip some time ago. So he would encourage me to check out likely girls, well that’s what I thought. In all probability he sniffed for treats. Now you might think that all food for a dog was free. You are so wrong there. Dog were fed as wages so meals at home were his due. He was quite adept at fetching things like the local paper thrown over the front fence or chasing rats in the garden. I don’t think there were many rats but he certainly made you think that. He’d stub his nose against the back door to be let out, then run up the garden just missing catching the sneaky rat. I wasn’t fooled. It was part of his act showing how valuable he was and being paid in Schmackos.                                 

I’ll mention liver treats and warn pet owners to avoid these like the plague as they smell awful. However, buying these for your pet will show that you love them.

“Who did Rastus live with now?” you ask. He belonged to the lady next door but there were many times it was necessary to take him in when she was in hospital. So he treated my home his too.

Then what happened to the girl in the park? Some good and some bad. We did meet her again a few times. The interaction was all between Rastus and her with a condescending nod to me now and then. She told Rastus her name which was Penny, then winked at me. She chatted about work, travel or her flat mates. Nothing, I could use to get any closer to her, but it was a friendship without pressure.

The day came when she came up to us and started the conversation. “Sorry.” she said. “I am leaving…transfer up the hill.”

I saw the disappointment of Rastus’s face. Whether it was the loss of the free food or the knees to place his head, I don’t know which. She turned to me, gave me a kiss and her phone number

With that Rastus gives out a moan of canine sorrow.

“It’s OK, Rastus” she said “You’re still my special boy.”

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How unusual

 

How unusual said my mother as the baby she had just given birth to was me and placed in her arms for her to cuddle. I was then whisked away, cleaned up and then placed in a cot close by as everythging was cleaned up so that all looked well when her husband, my father was invited in to say hello.

It is uncommon for the newly born to remember anything of the event as the shock of moving from a warm environment to the glaring light of day can be a shock to babies who may cry at this first separation or decide it was too bright to look at anything so keep their eyes closed and wait to be put back where the belong.

That must have been me as a I remember nothing of that uncanny period of my life all those years ago apart from being introduced to my elder brother who was aghast that someone else was going to take his mother's milk that she soon was offering me confirming that she would feed me now I was one of the family.

My brother was devastated and I recall as I grew up that at no time did he want to play with me but instead play with the other boys in the street.  That really didn't worry me as I preferred to play with the younger kids especially a pretty girl up the road.

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Rastus and me in the park (Chapter 2)

 

After my first encounter with Rastus we got on well. I suppose I had been a bit of  dog  in the past so he befriended me happy to go on walks with me. We are having one now and have stopped for a paws. (I know that’s a bad joke).

I find a bench in the park but it’s occupied by a young woman. So I sit at the end of the seat while Rastus after a shy glance at the girl sits closer to her. He is a real flirt and after checking to see any signs of canine aversion sits even closer to her. She is eating a baguette as it is lunchtime. Clearly he knows I didn’t bring food with us so he might get a treat from her.

His steely eyes focus on the baguette and he edges closer to her. So close in fact his chin is almost resting on her knee. Meanwhile I am watching the pigeons on the grass with one eye and the other on her. Her knees emerge enticingly from her dress. They are pretty knees and Rastus agrees and plonks his chin on them with a look saying “Surely you need some help eating that baguette.”

Compliantly she breaks a tiny piece from the baguette and gives it to him. He wolfs it down without touching the sides and he manages to lick her hand with the quickest of licks.

I cannot ignore their foreplay and decide to do something about it.

“Sorry”, I say, “He’s a bit forward”.

She turns to me; hell’s boots, she is beautiful. I could lick her too. I wonder whether she would mind?

“What’s his name?” She asks hardly looking at me.

“That depends I say. When he’s at home he is Tinkerbell but when he is with me he is Rastus.”

By mentioning his name he turns his attention from the baguette to me, affirming the statement.

Clearly Rastus is a bit annoyed that more baguette is not coming his way, so he decides to lick her toes. She squeals with delight looking at me as though I did it.

I wish I had.

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Waiting in the queue

           

I was brought up waiting

As a child in the war

Waiting to go to school

Waiting to ride a bike

Waiting for pocket money

Waiting for my birthday

Waiting for a girlfriend

Waiting for a first kiss

Waiting to watch a film

With lots of other kids

At the town's cinema

Then each day I was queuing

As a youth later on

Queuing the towns shops

Queuing at school's lunch time

Queuing to get the cane

Queuing in all the shops

Queuing in the schools toilet

Queuing at the bus stop

Queuing for everything

It seemed like everyday 

I didn't mind I was free

Image from www.Dreamstime.com

Rastus (Chapter 1)

I’ve always loved Rastus. That wasn’t his real name or my dog but I met him a few years back. He belonged to a neighbour of mine. Rastus didn’t know this, he thought he owned her. She wanted a dog so went to the dog pound to choose one finding Rastus there. When introduced they soon were friends. No too active as he’d been deprived of his private parts. Probably she was told the usual sob story of a placid dog wanting a companion. So he went home with her with his dog tag jingling on his collar. They don’t jingle these days as they are made plastic but she in her wisdom was entranced by this tinkling sound and called him Tinkerbell.

He settled in, soon making carnage of the back garden but she didn’t seem to mind. This is where I came in and before long I was spending few hours a week tidying the place up and acquainting myself with Tinkerbell. He was out of control so I suggested I take him for a walk after my gardening.. It took time for him to understand that I took him and not vice-versa. However by the time I returned him home he was walking by my side with an occasional glance up at me to knowig I was in charge.

Back home we were given a drink, me tea and Tinkerbell water. As I was sitting down in the Lounge Room chatting with my neighbour that I  noticed marks on furniture and cushions. I pointed out damage his teeth but she had not noticed them. Clearly her eyesight was fading. “Oh, Tinkerbell, you naughty boy,” she said.

I suggested he be given just one room in the house to stay in, preferably the kitchen or laundry when she was out and she agreed. He took no part in the conversation and decided he wanted to go into the garden so I got up and let him out and straight away he deposited a load in the rose bushes, reversed and then covered it with dirt.

He then looked up and grinned at me.

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