Tales from the Bark Side

By Keith Ross | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, December 29, 2007

Welcome back to the bark side of life here in Ottertail where the visions of smiling children still linger in my memory like freshly fallen snow — light, clean, and refreshing. I don’t believe there is anything that compares to the smile of a small child when opening their presents. They adorn the room with unrelenting joy.

I trust you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and for those of you that did not; you were in the thoughts and prayers of many empathetic souls.

In keeping with the holiday tradition, I have one more episode with a very smart Siamese cat to share with you. Last week I had a tale from Connie Sanders about a Christmas mouse, and this week we have the sequel to that story.

Our pets provide us with plenty of tales to tell — Here's Connie's story of a cat that had plans and schemes of her own.

VENGEANCE

—THY NAME IS SAM

As I stated before, Sam loved Christmas. There were exceptions to this. She hated it when I went on vacation and left her home alone. And, she always found a way to let me know.

This particular Christmas, I had put up a small four-foot tree on a table by the window. The decorations were pretty and Sam seemed to enjoy them.

On the day I left, I picked her up and told her I loved her and would be home soon. I also asked her to “please leave the tree standing for me.”

A few days later I returned. Sam met me at the door and seemed happy to see me. When I saw the tree still on the table, I praised her for leaving it in one piece for me.

With that said, she gave me a look that could have dropped an elephant in its tracks. She walked over to the tree, and with one well-placed swat, knocked it to the floor. Then she calmly walked away.

There are those who say animals can't think or reason but only act on instinct. These people didn't know Sam. She thought this out for several days and plotted the best way to let me know that this was no accident. She meant it!.

Lucky for me, Sam didn't hold a grudge and we were soon enjoying each other's company once more.

Thanks Connie. I believe Sam reasoned out the situation and waited for the opportune moment to convey her displeasure with her mistress.

They say timing is everything in life and I think Sam understood that principle and timed her attack on the tree with well-reasoned wrath.

If you have a tale that tells about a pet you own that displays reasoning skills, send it in to me. I'd love to share with all my readers.

Keith Alan Ross writes from his home in New York Mills.