Thursday, July 21, 2011

WHAT'S IN A SLIPPER?

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
TOBY, the 'SWEET HOOLIGAN' here...

“No!” she shouts.

I look up in surprise.

“No!” she repeats, looking at me sternly. “Give that back to me!”

The slipper, I wonder? You want the slipper?

 I open my mouth and drop it to the floor. I’ve spent the whole night absorbing its interesting secrets, but now she wants it back.

“Look what you’ve done, Toby! Now what am I supposed to do?”

I recoil in surprise at the tone of her voice. She looms over me and reaches down to pick up my special booty. Her expression is one of unguarded fury. I lie on my side and ease onto my back, looking up at her, appealing for explanation - or perhaps a game?

 
“This was my Christmas present!” she bellows. “This cost the Boss a fortune! How must I explain this to him? Damn Dog!”

Huh?

She turns away. I’m obviously in disfavour. What have I done wrong?

But this was the most interesting treasure in the house. During the dark hours, while she slept, I unearthed it. Retrieved it. Took it to my bed – to unravel its yards and yards of inviting and riveting stories. Yummy, absorbing information. Answers that were just waiting to be revealed. Like the onions she so enjoys peeling…

“Read them, Maxmom! Read them!” my eyes urge

She has no idea of the value of the information she holds in her hand.

She ignores me and places the one slipper on the table – high up and away from me. Her face is turned away and her mood - dark. She’s not happy. I thought I was doing her a favour.

Does she realise that it tells the secret of the dark bird which landed in our garden? Does she realise that it reveals what she had eaten yesterday, where she had wandered and what she had felt? Her entire life history was in my jaw. Her emotions – trust, fear, love, dreams – all bundled up in one package. I want to know everything about her but now my text book has been removed.

I walk up behind her and sit at her heels. She turns and glares at me..

“Can I have the other one, perhaps?” I ask tentatively.
 She shrugs her shoulders and goes off to make her tea.
Humans! They are just so confusing!


21 comments:

Kate said...

All I read was "Retriever" and thought you'd done an excellent job! Although I think they have to throw it first.....

Happy Trails :)

Koda

the ornamental nest said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Scout and Freyja said...

Sometimes the value of a good slipper is lost on humans, Toby. Sorry your momma didn't aPURReciate the fact that you were only trying to get to know her better...sigh. (Besides, humans should know better than to leave great items like slippers and socks on the floor to be 'read' by inquiring minds☺)

Golden Samantha said...

Oh Toby - such a drag when humans just don't get it about the things we do to try to add to our encyclopedia of knowledge concerning them! So sorry your "book" was summarily removed! (LOVE that last photo... well... and the first too heheh!)
xoxoxo
Sammie, Avalon and Oz

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

Well Toby... these silly Peeple just do NOT understand the IMPAWtant thingys in life.

Of course this whole incident is HER fault... if SHE wanted to continue her STINGY WAYS... she should have HIDDEN the slippers in the furst place. I'm just sayin buddy.
Have you considered offering to TRADE a couple of your.. well loved toys... fur BOTH of the slippers???

How Sam Sees It said...

LOL - Monty does that from time to time. You never know what he will steal next, but if he is quiet it means he has something he shouldn't!

Sam

Mrs. JP said...

Hey, I remember those slippers. Aren't those the ones you had to send back because the first pair smelled ummmmmm, bad? Toby has such a sweet face who could stay mad? Maybe you could salvage part of it and remake them into clog-like slippers. Oh, we are laughing WITH you MAXMOM! Tehehehehe

Anna the GSD said...

Hey Toby! You need a kitty to blame things on...they come in handy for that! :)

I did make a snowdog for Max! But it's toooooo hot here now for that! Booo!

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

Hmmmmm... It really does sound like a case of "Lost in Translation" to me...

Woofs,
Tommy

Anonymous said...

Well I gots to say I is totally on your side Toby. I agree with Frankie, MaxMom should have put it out of reach, entirely MaxMom's fault.

Now, since the one slipper is ah, well, ah lets say it cannot be used anylonger. So how about the remaining slipper, I say it should be yours. Explain to MaxMom that this will be the ONLY slipper of hers that you will ever touch again.

Gee, don't hoomans realize that they leave their enticing smells everywhere, specially in their SHOES????

Love ya big guy!

woos, Tessa

NanaNor's said...

Hi Toby, Unfortunately you have no way of knowing whether something is good for you to have or if mom will be unhappy. You've made me remember what puppyhood is like.
Best ask your aunt Tammy what is safe to play with.
Hugs & lots of pets,
Noreen & Reggie-dog

brooke said...

oopsie! It did look really soft and squishy like a toy that needed to be destuffed. you couldnt help it!

animal lover, quilt lover said...

Hi Max,
I read about dogs taking things that belong to their people and chewing it with great pleasure. For the last 35 years I have had 5 dogs. Only 2 of those dog were young puppies when we got them. Not one would chew up anything but what was theirs!!! I have had really good dogs!!!!
I said Hi on Face-book yesterday to you!
xx, Fern

Molly the Airedale said...

We so hope she gave you her other slipper, Toby!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

sprinkles said...

You remind me so much of my dad's beagle, Toby. That's exactly something he'd do!

♥I am Holly♥ said...

Toby, you are such a sweet hooligan!! We bet you get another slipper!! Holly used to eat all of mine when she was a puppy and sometimes she would actually take them off of my feet and run away with them to her hiding spot under the table!! Lots of love, Debbie & Holly

STELLA and RORY from Down Under said...

Hi Toby, what a good job on the slipper. Tell Mum there will always be another slipper. Any legal advice about the damage, ask Aunty Abby and Uncle Jed from Merrylands hehehe. No worries, and love, Stella

Two French Bulldogs said...

that story sure sounds familiar
Benny & Lily

Curt Rogers said...

Toby, you're far wiser than your human companion but you can't blame them. Our noses aren't as advanced and we have a nasty tendency to get attached to the silliest of things. Perhaps you could learn some moderation. Duncan likes to pull socks into his bed at night and surround himself with all the odoriferous goodness of his papas, all without chewing on them. He might take a polite lick or two to get those scents out but he doesn't chew. Maybe you could give it a try. Just once.

MySpecialDoggies said...

Neeli doesn't understand why Maxmom was so angry - isn't that what Golden Retrievers are supposed to do? Neeli's favorites are socks paper napkins!

Woofs
Nadine & Neeli

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Toby
Sometimes humans just have a hard understanding us.
I think both of the slippers should be yours,, since their no good to anyone now.
I am sure you would never want anything else,,,, not ever,,
just the precious slippers that told the story.
love
tweedles