SPRING FORWARD

By Alice Hamilton

Mon, 26 Mar 2018
  • 1236 reads
5 comments
 

 

 

There was a strange dog in my garden. Who was the owner? Maybe this animal had a name tag. I opened the back door and paused. I am afraid of dogs, I admit. This one was black. A poodle? A spaniel? A mongrel? It stared at me but didn’t move. 

 

I walked across the lawn cautiously, leaving the back door open in case I needed to bolt back inside. As I drew nearer, I realised this wasn’t a dog. Those big green eyes were cat’s eyes. That flattish face was a cat’s face. Those long whiskers were a cat’s whiskers.

 

So, my visitor was a large cat, called Madeleine, according to the silver disc on her collar. Motionless she continued to stare. One of her front paws was injured. I dared to pick her up. She was much lighter than she looked. She made an odd noise. ‘Aïe! Aïe! Aïe!’ 

 

Indoors I searched for a container. A picnic basket seemed the only option. The amazingly docile creature was now inside and we were off to the vet. The receptionist smiled and asked the name of my pet. Why was she addressing me as Miss Stray? Soon it was our turn. 

 

To say the vet was excited is an understatement. As he gently removed her from the picnic basket, Madeleine stared at him with her big green eyes. Irresistible little flirt. ‘Ah, I have not had the pleasure of meeting one of these beauties before. The new breed. French, of course.’

 

‘Really. So what’s it called?’ ‘Do you notice anything about her coat?’ ‘It looks like one of those cartoons. When someone is electrocuted? Hair standing on end?’ ‘Right, now watch what happens when I stroke her.’ ‘The fur seems to spring forward.’ ‘That’s correct. English translation - Long Haired Spring Forward.’

 

 Bien sûr!

 

 

TRANSLATION

 

Aïe! - Ouch!

Bien sûr! - Of course!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate U
Story
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

How interesting! good idea for the IP. When I saw the title, I wondered if it would be about Springer Spaniels – I got flat on my face taking our springer spaniel for a walk as a teenager when he suddenly sprang! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Alice Hamilton on

The springer spaniel sprang! I like that - what an appropriate comment for IP. I just wanted a picture of a black dog that was in the public domain. This is a painting by George Paice (1854-1925). First the dog is described as a black English setter but then there is a suggestion that it’s a wavy coated black retriever. It’s definitely a black dog anyway! Thanks for commenting.

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Black dogs. Madeleine. Miss Stray.

I'm bumping into walls and falling down stairways.

I was never good at these.

I find pedestrian crossings cryptic.

Enjoyable read.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Alice Hamilton on

The black dog is a red herring to lead the reader astray. I like cats but I would not own one. Recently, in my road, two cats have been killed by traffic, another was savaged by an Alsatian and another, a Russian Blue, was stolen. Madeleine and her fur coat would not last long round here.

Thanks very much for reading and commenting.

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Black dogs and red herrings. I'm so glad I read that. The savages of Alsace and a Blue Russian stole. I think I prefer cats to dogs overall. I'm more cat than dog.

Parson Thru