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.