Don’t come over Rover

“My mom encouraged us to move about.  On our own, we navigated our world through trial and error.  Unbeknownst to us, Joan kept an eye on the pulse of our activities. It was on one fateful day I realized this fully. As Mr. Rice dropped me off from the kindergarten bus, there was often the McKearnen’s shorn sheep dog testing the length of his chain. I’d stick out my tongue, feeling confidently sassy  that this would be the extent of our relationship.  

One afternoon it became a different story. As I enjoyed my usual taunts, Rover started barking.  Only this day as I waited for the chain to stop, he just kept coming!  As he bolted towards me across the street, I froze with fear. Unfortunately this occurred right in front of a tall hedge of stinger bushes, some kind of boxwood with thorns. While I don’t know the scientific name for this six foot hedge, I realized at that moment that I would either die from the stinger bushes or from the dog that now had his eyes on my jugular. 

  “Mommy!”  I whispered, as the tears streamed down my face!  I knew I was too far from home for her to hear me. Farewell cruel world. Curtains. 

Unable to move, I heard her voice. Was this a dream? But her beautiful alto became louder and closer.

Aware of sudden movements, I turned my head slowly. An Amazon warrior appeared through sun rays, my mother, running and carrying a big stick. The expression personified, as she sang, “I’m coming Nay!”  

Everything became slow motion. Baby Joan waving her club and flying down the sidewalk. “I’m coming!” she echoed.  

Sensing the fun was over, the friendly pooch ran back home.  

How did she know I was in such dire straits?  I was too far from the house to be seen.

“How did you know,” I often asked her after that. 

Joan was always happy to explain, “I started looking out the window  when I thought you should have been home already.”  Huh. This was both unexpected and comforting. 

I realize now that the McKearnan’s family dog was just playful, but that day I was sure I was going to die from either the killer bushes or the gigantic hound. It was a choice I was pondering until I heard my dear mother’s voice.  My mom was my hero.  And after that, my sister Jo, two years my junior, was there when the bus dropped me off as well. Thank goodness.”