Who Knew?

     A long time ago, I witnessed something that both surprised and amused me.  In truth, I was so shocked by how things turned out that I still chuckle over it, years later.  I only wish I had been carrying a camera because I'm sure it would have won a prize on America's Funniest Home Videos.

     Okay, here's what happened.  We owned a little African Basenji Dog that had been adopted by second son when he was fifteen.  Those two were inseparable.  When second son left the country to be a Foreign-exchange Student, Stranger the dog sort of became my dog.  She followed me everywhere.  If I was in the living room and went to another room, Stranger was right by my side.  I was pleased that she had adjusted so well to our son's absence.

     At the end of the school year, we decided to take Stranger with us to the airport when we picked second son up.  It was a small-town airport and Stranger jumped out of the car and began investigating the new  surroundings.  Her smile told us that she was enjoying this new adventure, but we waited anxiously for her to realize that second son had come home.  We didn't have to wait for long.

     Suddenly, Stranger froze in her tracks.  Two feet to her left, stood second son.  We were sure she could see him out of the corner of her eye.  Still, she just stood.  Second son stepped closer.  Stranger moved away just as far... several times.

     Finally, second son reached down and picked Stranger up, ready for the warm greeting he fully expected from her.  Instead of a warm welcome, though, Stranger began looking around; up, down, around... any direction, as long as she wasn't looking at second son.  I couldn't believe how extreme her efforts were to ignore second son.  For fifteen minutes, she was determined not to see him.  I kid you not.

     Until that very moment, I did not know that animals would react in such a way.  Stranger made second son jump through so many hoops that evening, before she would finally give in and allow him to pet her.  Have you ever seen a dog act this way?  I've seen some pretty bizarre behavior, but this truly was the most curious reaction I have ever seen from a pet.  Have you ever seen anything like this?  Do tell.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya