This is a response to a prompt from the meeting on
July 16, 2017, though I have not been able to type it up until now. I have been
asked to share it, so I hope readers find this enjoyable.
The prompt was: What do you think goes through a dog’s
mind when he goes along peeing on every telephone poll and hedge he can find.
Doggy Domain
I can smell them. Their acrid odour fills my nostrils.
Those haggard, flea-bitten, yowling racks of fur have invaded my yard again.
There in the flower bed they have left their work. Burying it does squat. I got
whiffs of their business from the other side of my doggy door. But the lily
bush! Oh, the poor lily bush. It’s been sprayed top to bottom, and the vandal
could not stop. He scratched up the fencepost before marking it as well!
No! I won’t let that stand! This is my space, and I am
going to make sure every creature on the street knows it! First to the edge of
the porch, right by the stairs. I’ll drench it good there. Then to the lilies.
I’ll freshen them up myself. Now to the tree. So many passing by have left
their calling card, but they need to know the tree is mine. The fencepost?
Mine. The rusty fire hydrant? Also, mine, and no one else’s.
I have covered my own domain, but I need to expand. I
circle the fence and up the neighboring driveway. There I see shoes. Now my
shoes. A skateboard. My skateboard. The giant truck on the pavement sits there
as well. I can’t use it, but it’s mine now anyway. Ah wait, I see you now, you
mangy, poor excuse for a feline. Get over here! That large white coat of yours,
I say its mine! So, stay still already! You want to hide in the tree, eh? Well,
that girl is not running away. I’ll just come over to her and, yep, she’s mine
too.
Oh, now there is a lady coming this way. She is not
standing still at all. I’ll run into my zone. Hey, wait, she can’t go near that
truck. That’s my truck! And those shoes! Also mine! Now you don’t want them.
Fine. Put them back! Good, now, hey! Stay in your yard! This is my yard! That
fence is mine! The tree is mine! The
lily bush is mine! The porch is mine! Get off it! What are you knocking on the
door for? The inside of the house is mine too!
Oh Billy! Billy! Tell this strange lady to go away.
This is my yard. What is she pointing at? I can’t mark anything that high. I
mean look at me. Wait. I have to go inside? But I only just got started! I’m
not done yet! Those cats will cover all my hard work the moment they come out
of hiding. No. Not yet. I know. I’ll take the fight to them! Yes, there it is.
Their fountain right in front of the window. I’ll saddle up here and mission
accomplished! The dog rules the day! And now, wait, put me down! Billy! Stop
it! I’m being puppy-handled! Stop! Billy!
