Liquorice and Keaton have trained me well, for my worthy puppers require that I brush them while they rest lying on their sides. My little darling and the young master are firm believers in that old maxim, “Never stand when you can sit, and never sit when you can lie down”. My pair of pampered puppers relax in complete contentment while I make busy with rake, slicker and soft bristled brush. Frequent times they snooze, bodies limp and yielding to my rearranging of loose limbs. When brushing a hind leg of the young master, Keaton will sometimes raise the weary head and patiently wash my ear being careful to wash behind my ear as well, for Keaton is most thorough when tending to the grooming of his Dad. Sometimes the young master deals with imaginary fleas about my shoulder or leg. That I don’t have fleas is a testament to Keaton’s devotion to his duties. Most times however he lies in quiet harmony, like an oversized black and white jelly. Liquorice and Keaton are rolled over onto their backs to easier gain access to undersides and neck areas. Even then I am sure that they doze on unaware of their changing position in the greater scheme of things. This morning when slowly I rolled Keaton over, off his back, having done the necessary to his undercarriage, his body rolled, somewhat reminiscent of a lethargic flow of lava, slowly coming to rest on his recently groomed side. Keaton’s head came to rest tilted at an awkward angle, almost resting on the top of his head. His “upper” lip, drawn under the influence of gravity, formed a ridge about level with his gums. The “lower” part of his lip sagged into the cavity of the contented smile that played about his amiable expression, only it gave the appearance that Keaton had arisen that morning and forgotten to put his dentures in!
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – Not a good look!
Keaton – I was imitating my Dad!