That is the question I asked of myself this morning, and it was all Liquorice’s fault!
Why? Well after Liquorice and I returned from our morning walk I decided to pick a few veggies from the garden above our little house orchard at the other side of the property. So instead of strolling along the track back to the house we wandered across the paddock below the driveway. As we walked I became intrigued that my little darling appeared to be “flicking” her front toes rather high as she finished each step, at least on her right side, the side I was on. Curious, I tried to see under her chest to see if she “flicked” her left paw as high however that was difficult to determine. I bent over a little as we walked along, then a bit more however with the longish grass and the dappled shadows on the ground from the branches above I still could not see properly. So now I bent right over, with my hands positioned just above my knees to support an aching back, still walking along, and thankfully Liquorice slowed her pace. Possibly she was as curious of my new interesting “stance” as I was of her gait. It would have seemed a peculiar sight had a neighbor been witness to these events though I was not thinking about that at the time. My focus was on comparing the movements of Liquorice’s front paws with each step. Liquorice looked across at me in this pose with the customary quizzical look of wonder when she sees her human behaving oddly. And it is a look I know all too well. Again she looked forward with me still bent over examining her every movement, my head now almost to Liquorice’s level. A few more steps. Her head turned. Liquorice’s eyes met mine for an instant, then she averted her gaze as I walked headfirst into the unyielding trunk of an old Gum tree!
As the stars receded I became aware once more of where I was, and my little darling was there, reminding me who I was, with concerned licks and Newfie sympathies. Liquorice was sorry for what she had done!
At least my back has not bothered me all day!
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – I’ll have to keep him on a leash more often!