When I was a little girl, we had a small mutt dog named Cleopatra. She was the sweetest little dog. We lived in a duplex with a nice backyard and a big walnut tree. My mother was 23, single with 2 small children. A hot red head named Rita lived in the upstairs. Sailors came with flowers and beer to date Rita and my mother. A neighbor who drank a bit much would come home after the bars closed and belt out “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog” at the top of his lungs. We had an incinerator for the trash too. Weird that we used to burn our own trash in the backyard. Times have changed.
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Monday Crimson Quillfeather
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Wednesday Pam from Calif
Thursday art ah zen
Friday FloridaSNMOM
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Sunday loggersbrat
But this morning, I am remembering Cleo, warm summer days, and dog biscuits. My mother bought what I remember as Kendal 5’s dog treats. I googled them but either I am not spelling it right or they were not memorable enough for someone to upload info about them. There is very little you can’t find out about on the googles, but here you have it. There were five different “flavors” and each had its own color. It was my pleasure to give them to Cleo everyday and join her in the eating there of.
They all tasted the same, but we didn’t care. A dog and a five year old have about the same discerning palates. We sat together on a little concrete patio, shaded by the loquat tree in the next yard and shared our little treats. We each had one.
In my memory, it is always sunny with a little wind. Cleo is always young and bouncy. She sits with me after her treat is gone and listens raptly as I read Rikki Tikki Tavi to her. She sides with the mongoose, the snakes don’t scare her, even when I read the part where Nag is coiled up in the water jug, waiting to strike the humans. She is a brave little dog.
Blessedly, I don’t remember losing Cleo, nor do any of the dogs after her that my family had stay with me. Cleo is always young and happy, waiting for me to give her a biscuit and sit with her. I am always 5 years old and happy, being with her. Golden days.