PUTTING BACK THE COLOUR

The final chapter.........

PUTTING BACK THE COLOUR - Pt.3

“I’ve just heard that the New Start Animal Rescue Centre is in dire straits” Meg spat out between her panting. “They just don’t have the funds to continue” she added. Desmond popped his paw onto Meg’s shoulder consolingly. The pack agreed that they would have to get their thinking caps on.

“What about a Fair? Everyone loves a Fair, don’t they Billy?” Zahli asked. “I did not! It’s all just porkies!” cried the Staffie, shuffling his paws in the dirt. “Come back to Earth!” Amy snipped, as she clipped her brother behind the ear. “Now we need some events that will be sure to draw the crowds in” Zahli stated.  “I reckon we should have a cow milking contest” Ginnie offered. “What about herding some sheep?” asked Molly. “Why couldn’t we have some dung tossing, seeing there will be cows in the paddocks?” Jack put forward. “Oh yes, we could insert pretty coloured ribbons into those cow pats” Amy cried out.”  “Of course I couldn’t get my paws anywhere near those smelly things though!” she added. We could have a dunking machine” Kyle said with enthusiasm. “And I know just who we can dunk too” Billy barked, looking in Teddy’s direction.  “Pigs!” shrieked Meesha. “Mind who you’re looking at when you say that” Desmond said, sucking his tummy in tightly.

“You could toss those balls ‘til the cows come home, but you’ll never drown me” bragged Teddy, sitting precariously on the board of the dunking machine. Billy took careful aim & ‘SPLASH’!!! The Yorkie disappeared into the huge water tank. “I guess the cows are home” the onlookers announced, as Teddy shook himself furiously.

“I want the cow pat with the blue checked ribbon” Cheyenne said, as she lined up ready to toss the dung. Then taking the ribbon in her mouth, she started to swing the pat from side to side, gaining momentum with each swing. “Ok, toss!” yelled Desmond. The missile was launched & all eyes were upon it. “No, don’t! It’s not……………!” Desmond warned. However, Molly had already launched herself into the air, poised to snatch one of the ‘frisbees.’ The cow pat broke apart, sending little pieces all over the Border collie. “You won’t see me sitting next to her at dinner. Nor will I be sleeping anywhere near her, for that matter!” Amy retorted, covering her nose with her paw.

“Well hello cutie! You’re new in town, aren’t you?” Teddy asked the blonde creature. “Now you have gone troppo!” Billy spat out. “You’re chatting up a………..baby pig” he added. “I knew that!” the Yorkie retorted. “I was just seeing if your head was still in the clouds!” “Sorry Teddy, but I need to steal your girlfriend for a while” Kyle said with a wicked glint in his eye, as he led the piglets to the starting line. 

“Now little darlings, just remember that it’s not whether you win that’s important, but it’s all about ……… ” Before Cheyenne could finish, Dakota cut in with “It’s all about the big stash of food you’ll get at the end of the race.” Still chortling, Kyle lowered the flag & the piggies………..just stood there! “Come on, you’re supposed to get your legs into gear now” cried Meesha. “Look! I’ll show you how it’s done.” she added. She then thundered down the track with the piglets following closely behind her. All of a sudden, Meesha got a whiff of the barbequed meat. She veered off the track, pushed through the crowd & snatched a sausage off the barbie.  The piglets, now confused as to what they were meant to do, went in all directions! The blonde pig headed towards the apple-bobbing area. She was about to dip her snout into the bucket when “eek, eeeeeeeek, eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!  She had caught site of Teddy who’d sauntered over to see what she was up to. The Yorkie boy went head-first into the bucket of water, his legs ‘swimming’ in the air. Billy B dropped his fairy floss in fright & galloped down the race track!! The ducks left off looking for worms & high-tailed it after him. “We have a close race now! Jack shouted, as the little pigs got back on track too. “And we have joint winners!” declared Jack, as Billy B crossed the finish line with a duck hanging off his tail.

The next event was the sheep herding. Floss eyed off the wayward sheep & prepared herself to do battle. She ran to the left of the flock, sending the wooly coated ones heading to the right. Next she inched forward. The sheep turned & headed the other way. The Border collie eased them back together. She had them heading for the pen. She was going to break the record! Then Floss saw it out of the corner of her eye! Jack, who had been amusing himself with the ball, had sent it rolling down the hillside. Without hesitation, Floss galloped across the paddock. “Oh we have wooly jumpers!” declared Kyle, as the sheep started darting in every direction.  Meanwhile, Floss stood proudly with the prized ball in her mouth.  The sheep continued their frantic darting about. Zahli looked up to see them heading straight for her. She sprang up to avoid becoming a skittle, but a wooly one went right under her, forcing the dog onto its back. Zahli held onto the ewe’s ears, her body bouncing wildly.  Kyle grabbed his bagpipes & started to pump & blow. The instrument began their woeful groaning. The startled sheep came to a sudden halt, sending the Lhasa Apso sailing through the air. “Don’t worry Zahli. I’ll save you!” Billy bellowed.

Teddy, who’d been taunting the grazing cattle, had provoked those cows so much, that they had started to charge at him. “Mummy!” cried Teddy, as he desperately tried to outrun them. The Yorkie hit Billy with such a force that it knocked them both off their paws. “Oh thanks for the comfortable landing” Zahli said to the stunned pair as she stepped off their backs.  The crowd’s applause filled the air. Then they threw huge sums of money into the collection boxes, declaring that they’d never had so much fun.  

The dogs had helped so many people to find their joy again. In appreciation, Joseph pledged the interest from his investment to the Rescue centre. Those involved in the Community garden, promised that any money raised from the sale of surplus produce, would be donated to the centre as well. The animal rescue centre was thriving!

Looking up at the sky, Amy declared “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” All eyes gazed appreciatively at the brilliant colours of the perfect rainbow. “And just think, we had a paw in restoring that beauty” Meg announced proudly. “And we think you are the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!” the Mayor announced. He then hung a ‘Faithful Service’ medal around each of the dogs’ necks. The pooches, standing tall with pride, gave ‘hi fives’ to each other. “Now, what I want to know is……………” Before Dakota could finish his sentence, the pack added “When do we eat?”

The End.

PUTTING BACK THE COLOUR - Part 2

Dakota & Jack kicked up the moist soil, their paws working overtime. “Hey! Watch it! I’ve already had my beauty treatment, thank you!” declared Amy. Zahli ran to see what all the fuss was about.  The handiwork of her friends set her thoughts into motion.

Zahli announced to the rest of the pack, that these diggers could be very useful. So she led Dakota, Jack, Cheyenne, Meesha & Floss, to the large open space where they would begin the operation. Then she called on a couple of doves that had been cooing nearby. They were only too glad to call their flocks to help out.  The Cockatoo that had been dancing on a nearby limb, suggested that he get his feathered friends to assist the canines also.

“What do you think you’re doing? Digging your way to China?” Teddy sneered, as he spotted the massive hole that Jack had gone to town on. “No! I’m going to grow Teddies” said Jack, smiling as he nudged the Yorkie boy into the hole. “Oh! Teddy, are you ok?” asked Molly, as she peered into the abyss. “Ow! My head hurts!” Teddy sobbed, realizing that the girls had crowded around him. “Here let me kiss it better!” offered Zahli. “My leg is sore too” the Yorkie said, as he winced in mock pain. 

As Meg, Ginnie, Daisy & Zahli scooped out the narrow trenches, the doves flew in & dropped the seeds into them. Then Kyle & Desmond would spread the soil over the seeds. Floss & Molly were maneuvering the plants into the holes that the bigger crew had dug. Amy sat on the sidelines………pondering whether she would need to apply another coat of varnish to her claws!

The cockatoos set about gently scattering the soil around the newly planted seedlings.  Next Jack & Dakota tromped over the soil in order to pack it down. “Oooh, it’s raining!” Teddy cried, as he ran to shelter under Dakota. Billy B’s sides just about split, as he pointed the hose this time…….at the garden. “Now that’s what I call a brilliant day’s work” said Floss, her chest puffing up with pride. “And I didn’t even break one claw” offered Amy.  The Kookaburras laughter echoed throughout the hillside.

Everything was growing well & it was becoming obvious that people were needed to take good care of this garden called Minbalup. Desmond stated that he knew just how to ‘get that ball rolling.’ He returned, running like a tri athlete, with a pink nightie dangling from his mouth! Then, around the bend, a woman came puffing like a train, determined to retrieve her clothing. “I told you I’d get them here!” barked the proud JRT. The woman stood transfixed, her eyes surveying the well set out garden. In the meantime, Meg rounded the corner with a string of sausages trailing from her mouth. The butcher was in hot pursuit. “Dinnertime!” exclaimed Daisy, drooling.

The dogs were delighted when the Butcher proclaimed to the now rather large gathering, that this would be a wonderful project for the whole community. “And there will be free sausages for all of these canines - every week!” he declared. “Gourmet, of course!” exclaimed Amy.

“Ger off with ya!” growled Teddy, looking in Billy B’s direction.  “A little bit of rain never hurt anyone” snapped the Staffy, running for cover himself. Then the dogs noticed that a rainbow had formed, with the orange now deepened, a yellow slice had been added to it, with a hint of green alongside that. “Ah! Mission accomplished!” cried Molly. “Now can we accomplish a good feed?” asked Meesha.

PUTTING BACK THE COLOUR

Part 1

“The rainbow’s got no colour!” exclaimed Zahli, her eyes looking Heavenward. Just as the Lhasa was mulling over the whys & wherefores, a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo sitting in the Gum tree, began what some would say, was squawking. Thankfully though, Dandy the Cockatiel who used to share the house with Zahli, had taught her the bird language well. “Oh that is just terrible!” the little furball cried, her eyes becoming misty. “Something has to be done” she said, as she ran off to round up her canine friends.

“So what you’re telling us, is that the bird reckons that the sadness & loneliness in the world, has caused the colour to disappear from the rainbow” Jack uttered. “That’s it in one” answered Zahli.  “I don’t like grey!” exclaimed Amy, looking down at her bright pink carryall. “I want to see proper rainbows again” shouted Billy. “And I want something to eat!” Desmond cried.

As the pooches went in search of the missing colours, they noticed that an elderly man had been sitting on his front porch each time they passed. His eyes were always fixed on the photo that he clasped in his feeble hands. Never was a smile seen on his face. Never did he greet the passers -by. “I think this is a job for us”, Zahli said with a sigh, nudging Ginnie with her nose.

The little Lhasa & her furry friend pushed the gate open. The old man’s eyes shifted to them as they bounded up the steps. Zahli stood in front of him, looking appealingly into his weather-beaten face. “You won’t find anything here! Away with you! Go on! Home you go!” the man snarled as he motioned towards the gate with his hand. Undeterred, Zahli & Ginnie placed a paw each, on the gentleman’s knees. Did they see some light in that man’s eyes? In one movement, Zahli jumped at him, landing squarely on his lap. Then after turning twice, she settled herself comfortably & closed her eyes. Meanwhile the Yorkie girl draped herself across the chap’s feet. Teddy, who’d been observing from the bushes, charged straight up those steps, bounced off of Ginnie & flattened Zahli! Before she could utter a bark, Teddy had sprung off her & was now draped around the back of the elderly one’s neck. A chuckle escaped from the lonely one’s mouth as a smile spread from one ear to the other. “Well I guess you’re here to stay then” exclaimed the man happily.

“This is Lily!” he said, turning the photo for them to see. “She was as sweet as apple pie” he added. The thought of hot apple pie had Zahli & Teddy drooling uncontrollably. “Ooey gooey!” cried Ginnie, who was on the receiving end. The new-found friends sat silently until the cool air began to make them shiver. “You will come again, won’t you?” asked the elderly one as the trio headed for the gate.

Over the weeks the dogs visited Joseph many times. He always treated them to bowls of water & lots of chicken. This time, as Zahli, Meg, Daisy & Dakota trotted up the steps they were greeted as usual, by Joseph. The difference was that a Scottish terrier proudly stood beside him. After witnessing the strength, courage, graciousness & lovable antics of the pack of pooches, Joseph had decided that he needed such a companion to share his life with. So when he saw the straggly Scottie (so badly in need of a loving home), in the rescue centre, he had no hesitation in adopting him. They enjoyed regular walks, always mingling with others whom they came across on their travels.

“So we have witnessed one very happy ending” Zahli said to the gathered pooches. “Oh look what’s happened” cried Meesha. They followed her gaze upwards. “The rainbow’s got a stripe of red!” she added. “Is that…..? Yes, there is a feint hint of orange next to the red” exclaimed Cheyenne, excitedly. “Our work is not finished then” declared Zahli. “And neither is my dinner” declared Dakota.

IT'S THE PUPPY IN ME

You should be on your mat,

When your mum is getting tea,

But I creep right up behind her

And she stumbles over me.

When the doorbell rings,

You should sit and calmly wait.

So I barge right past them all

And I’m heading for the gate.

You can’t walk through the garden,

You’ll flatten all the plants,

So I jump right in the centre

And begin my little dance.

When you are out walking

The duck poo you should leave it,

So I gobble it all up

And on the carpet I do heave it.

I like to push the boundaries,

Just to see how far I’ll get,

I know I should be really good,

But I’m not grown up yet!

Written by Dorothy Nation



Let me introduce myself!

I’m one of the furry kind who lives in the Land from Down Under. You know the place – just think of warm, sandy beaches covered in bronzed bodies.  The one where ya have to slip, slop, slap & slide or you’ll risk looking like a chooky lobster. The place where having a pie floater doesn’t mean giving ya tucker swimming lessons! You wear ya thongs & t shirt so ya won’t be a yobbo!

It’s where ya chuck a prawn on the Barbie while dippin’ ya fingers in vegemite & I get to gobble it up before it hits the dirt……..bonza!

Where ya act like a galah when your boomerang won’t come back but ‘she’ll be right mate when ya waltz with ya Matilda & tie ya kangaroo down; just to be a sport.  

Where I live, the kangas hop onto the front lawn & box ya garden gnomes. Then koalas jostle with the lorries for drinking rights in ya bird bath.

Oh you must’ve heard about cobbers who camp by the billabong & stare into the bush telly! They crack a coldie while cracking yarns. Where ya end up ‘going like the clappers’ when the little black picnickers get into ya grundies!!!

Have ya wracked ya noggin yet? Yep, that’s my home & we’re ridgy didge. That’s why we’re grinning like a sly fox! Cos I am………..we are, I am Oz-trail-yun!