Creative writing submission from the Rest Less community – submit your entry here.
I’ve started taking my two little Dachshunds to Salisbury Field and the local cricket ground for daily exercise. Due to my ongoing hip issues, they provide a nice open space for the sausages to run about in and plenty of bottom rests (benches) for me, keeping my pain to a manageable level.
Although I love my pavement walks and always have, I’m enjoying giving Willow and Bear the freedom to meet and greet other dogs. We’re so lucky to live in Dorchester and have so many green, open spaces nearby. I used to enjoy taking my dog Arthur up to Poundbury Fields, but in those days I could, and did, walk for miles. Now, alas, I can barely make it around the block without stopping and as Poundbury doesn’t have any benches, it’s a no go.
This morning, we went to Salisbury Field. We went through the gate and I let them off their leads before risking life and limb and hobbling down the slope. It’s important to say here: lesson learned – I won’t be using that gate again!
Previously, I’d kept them on lead whilst walking along the parallel path and entering from the opposite end, now I know why! Although the slope probably isn’t that steep for most people, for someone with a dodgy hip combined with a dodgy knee, I very nearly toppled. I was terrified I might land on and squash a small sausage dog.
Anyway, Willow and Bear set off at top speed across the grass, clearly enjoying themselves. Then Willow saw a group of pigeons and made a beeline over. I wasn’t concerned, she wasn’t going to catch them, but as she got near and they flew upwards, she literally took off, launching herself up into the air, her large, silky ears flying backwards. I so, so wished I’d brought my camera.
She was absolutely beautiful, her long, lean body and black coat glistening as she went remarkably high for such a little dog. She sailed through the air in an arch before landing gracefully, with two velvet, tan paws touching the ground gently before her back feet caught up. Almost as soon as she’d landed, off she went again, tearing across the grass towards another group before taking off again. And it was then that I noticed…she was smiling!
I was laughing at her antics, but at that moment, I wanted to cry, overwhelmed by her clear, unadulterated joy at such a simple, harmless game. On her fourth or fifth leap, I imagined her taking off, four paws stretched out, her tail like a rudder, as she whooped and wheeled around and around in the sky, her ears out sideways like wings.
In my mind’s eye, I saw her as a small, black, silky plane looping the loop, diving through the white, fluffy clouds to smile at the sun. Pulling her long, billowing skirts around her, she’d lean forward, her golden locks a mane of bright, yellow light as she laughed openly at her antics in the bright, open sky.
I was brought back to earth by Bear who, seeing her pleasure, wanted to join in, but lacking her fitness and agility, quickly gave up and instead chose to come over to me, pop his paws up on my knees, and whine pathetically to be cuddled. Of course, I obliged, feeling his pain as I too would’ve loved to have taken off and felt the wind beneath my feet, my ears in the slipstream, but it was not to be for either of us!
Reality taking over, the pigeons scattered and Willow came bouncing back over to join us, grinning like an idiot. Oh, my heart went out to her, this little dog tentatively taking steps to find herself in a new life, learning to feel joy again, and bringing joy as she does so.
Back with us, Bear greeted her like a long lost friend (she’d been engaged in her flying lesson for less than 10 minutes), his worried little face more relaxed as he worked his tail like a windscreen wiper, licking her face and muzzle, ingratiating himself to her so that she wouldn’t leave him again. Understanding his needs, she batted him with a front paw and set off in a somewhat tamer chasing game, running around in circles so he could keep up, nipping her bottom.
Taking myself to a bench to rest my hip, they both came pootling over. In one leap they joined me on the bench, one either side of me, just checking that I was OK too. Sitting there together, the three of us happy and content, I thought about how far we’ve come in the last few weeks and my mind automatically went to my previous dogs Arthur and Ila.
Oh my goodness, how I miss them. But these two little furries, with their open hearts and soft, silky ears, have not only make my life bearable, but have, without doubt, brought light and laughter back. I can imagine Arthur at my feet, side-eyed, watching Willow’s antics with the pigeons. And Ila, sharing the warm patch against my hip with Bear on the bench. We’ve all found our place together and together we’ll soar up in that sky, catching the wind and chasing the birds!
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