We had an all too seldom visit from my cousin Cherylyn giving my father the much-needed benefit of her nursing expertise. Cherylyn has met Liquorice previously, though not Keaton. She brought her teenage daughter, Amy, along to meet us and to meet our big Newfies. Amy loves dogs or so she claimed, and her mother having told Amy of Liquorice and Keaton’s ample proportions, Amy had expressed a desire to see our pair. Amy wore lightweight slacks, thin top and bare middle most suited to the warm summer nights here in Australia.
When Amy claimed their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a “large dog” I should have taken that as a premonition! Now I think most highly of King Charles Spaniels however, being not much more sizeable than the average “toiletbrush” dog – “large” King Charles’ are not!
Liquorice and Keaton had laid quietly in the breezeway when Cherylyn and Amy arrived; however Amy had noted their recumbent forms. Later, when leaving, Amy asked to be introduced to Liquorice and Keaton. Thus it was my little darlings were summoned.
Duly they gathered up their bones, rearranging them to a standing position before taking the few steps from the partly lit breezeway to greet their “relations”. Granted Liquorice’s blackness was not “prominent” in the dim light and Keaton’s Landseer color camouflaged his bulk well, however Amy’s reaction was not as expected!
Now Amy is a tall willowy thin girl of some seventeen summers, and her mother, well, though not tall there’s quite a lot of Cherylyn. Keaton walked over to Cherylyn, raised his head to kiss my cousin on the chin. Liquorice ambled to where Amy stood frozen to the spot in disbelief! Liquorice too stood still in front of Amy pondering the absence of cuddles, ear-massages, oohs and ahs that normally greet Liquorice when my little darling meets someone new. Liquorice, as if to remind Amy of the proper etiquette on these occasions, placed her cold nose on Amy’s exposed navel sending the startled girl squealing backing quickly to her mother’s side, the side away from the lovely lady Liquorice, only to find that spot occupied by an even larger hound, namely the young master Keaton! Being a gentleman, Keaton stepped back allowing his unexpected visitor with the high-pitched voice to pass by, which Amy did – backwards.
So there was Amy walking backwards around her mum, fleeing the ever-approaching Liquorice who was offering consoling licks. Cherylyn, delightful lady that she is, is built on dimensions that walking around her takes some time but eventually Amy of the squealing voice backed around to where Keaton stood patiently waiting her return. Keaton being a tall fellow with a good reach, and ever the attentive host, leant over giving Amy’s bare belly an indulgent supply of tummy-rubs with his broad tongue! The young master continued with his hospitality until Amy (who seemed to grow taller with this unexpected turn of events) had passed by with attentive Liquorice strolling along still trying to bring comfort and solace to Amy’s seemingly troubled world. Round and round Cherylyn Amy backed followed by a puzzled Liquorice, and with each pass Keaton again offered a plentiful supply of “tummy-rubs”.
Cherylyn was delighting in her daughter’s discomposure telling her, when freedom from girlish giggles allowed, “to stand still” and later “to settle down”. Actually Cherylyn found the whole situation quite hilarious!
Liquorice was tiring of all her walking so I said “Be seated” which had Liquorice and Keaton cease their benevolent activities turning their attention to their Dad. Amy took the opportunity to hide behind her mother and peer nervously with disbelieving eyes over her mother’s head at my two little darlings. Her mother offered no sympathy, only the admonition, “See, I told you they were big!”
Apparently Amy did not believe her mother’s description of Liquorice and Keaton’s bulk thereby shattering my belief that all teenage girls held their mother’s word as “gospel”!
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – You lead, I’ll follow.
Keaton – Yummy tummy rubs!