Do you just jump right in and pretend it is some sort of warholish like fiction? Or, do you ease in, like you would into a really hot bath. One toe at a time?
Its a tough call.
Plug your nose kids, its jumping time.
Pet day. SHAZAM! Whomever the genius is that thought up the brilliant idea of a group of 7 year olds bringing their pets to school needs to seek help. Quickly.
I was there, with the Fat Jack. He had gotten heavy so I had placed his bulk on top of the cubby shelf and was busy restraining him.
See, Jack is a rather large cat. Or a stunted cougar. Tough to say. He thinks he can take any canine that breathes.
For the most part, seeing the various rodents masquerading as dogs being bundled into the class I would agree. There is not the Chihuahua or Pekingese or Toy Poodle alive that could take Jack. However, when the hound of the Baskervilles started roaring inside the classroom I saw Jack look a wee nervous.
When the skinny little white boy with his pretty collection of prison tats dragged a slavering pit bull out of the room even Jack was a bit taken aback. It seemed a bit, shall we say, NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY to bring an obvious fighting dog to pet day. The owner of the Great Pyrenees that it was fighting looked almost angry.
If the veins traveling down his forehead and neck were any indication, he was near to an aneurysm.
I couldn't say I blamed him, honestly, here he was with his 200 plus pound puppy getting its ass kicked by an 60 pound Pitt. I would have been embarrassed too.
They were fighting around my ankles and legs by now and Jack was asking if I would care to wager on the outcome. It was looking bad for the pyrnees. So, very calmly, I kicked the pit in its swinging sack as hard as i could. I followed that with a stiff push to the chest of meth-boy and another calm kick to the head of the pitt.
My calmness prevailed.
After a few sweet muttered words meth-boy and his loyal canine companion left. Jack flipped a nonchalant paw in their direction, and I sped them along with a calm smile.
Leaving us alone in the hall. Jack, myself, the great prnyese and the blushing owner of said puppy.
200 pounds of goofy dog chose this moment to make friends with The Fat Jack.
It was turning into, bring your too dumb to live animal to school day.
Puppy lurched up on its hind legs to stick a friendly nose in The Fat Jacks general direction. Jack hissed, popped and with a casual swipe, split the damn dogs nose.
As the owner was being dragged into an inglorious retreat he asked me if I had trapped a damn Bobcat.
I sighed.
He really is a rather large kitty.
I was watching the retreat when my eye was trapped by something weird. A back pack, down the hall, hanging by its hook under the cubby shelf was moving. It was swinging back and forth in a very curious way.
A small gap appeared in the zipper area of the pack. This gap was then filled by the snout of a very large rat. Or, at least, thats what it appeared to be.
Until it unzipped the backpack all the way and jumped down. Tail wagging and its giant buggy eyes burning with a self satisfied glint. It was Pepe! The Chiuaha.
He looked confused.
I was confused.
The school nurse, walking down the hall was confused.
Jack was Bored.
The school nurse looked at me, quizzically.
At this point her guess was as good as mine. Pepe chose this moment to pee.
I am positive that it actually peed more water then it weighed.
I was impressed.
School nurse was not impressed.
Jack was amused.
She snatched up the dog mid-shake and marched into the nearest classroom.
And marched right out again when she was met by a chorus of howls, barks, caterwauls and one or two squeaks.
Than on to the next classroom.
Moments later, she reappeared dragging the recalcitrant owner of the grande escape artiste Pepe to the Principals lounge.
Several very tense minutes passed.
Jack Farted.
The principal came out of the lounge, leading Little girl by the hand. Little girl in turn on her very grubby little hands firmly clenched on the bright pink string she had used for the fat jack.
Justice of a sort.
All this. Before Jack and I had even left the hall.
