Uncaged Canines

Photo by Fredrik Öhlander on Unsplash

Family History Month in October always brings family stories to mind.  Fortunately, most of the stories I remember are humorous. Perhaps I have forgotten the ones that are not.  My father was a writer, and many of his pieces were humor.

When I was a small girl, my Father joined my Grandfather in his hardware business.  My Grandfather, in addition to operating his hardware business was the Mayor of our small town. My Father soon was elected to the City Council. My Grandmother had founded the first church in the community. My Grandmother was the most dignified lady you could imagine. Even her husband called her “Mrs. _______.”

We lived in an apartment above the hardware store. My Grandparents lived downstairs, behind the store. The windows of my parents’ bedroom overlooked the highway in front of the store and beyond that, there was a ditch separating the highway from a driveway that ran from the Police Station to cages housing the dogs picked up by the police officer/dog catcher.

Late one night something woke me. From my bedroom I could see Mother and Father watching something outside. Their body language conveyed that they were anxious about whatever it was they were watching. Of course, I jumped out of bed to see too. They hushed me and signaled me not to turn on a light as I joined them at the window.  I saw a familiar dark red housecoat crossing the ditch on the other side of the highway.

Funny thing: the next morning the police officer/dog catcher found the dog cages empty.

Courtesy of Clipart Library

A few weeks went by. Once again, I was awakened late at night. This time, only my Father was at the window. He was clearly distressed. Mother was nowhere in sight. When I looked out across the highway, I could see two shadowy figures; once again, one of them was in the familiar dark red housecoat.

What do you think the police officer/dog catcher found the next morning?

Courtesy of Clipart Library

A few more weeks went by, and once again I was awakened late at night. My father was watching. But this time the shadowy persons returned; frustrated! The dog cages now had padlocks they had been unable to cut.

What do you think would have happened if the local newspaper had found out that the Mayor’s wife and daughter were creeping about in the darkness?

Barbara Mattoon