Having a dog is the best! They’re all about unconditional love. And just about everything they do is they’re favorite thing. “We’re going into the other room. That’s my favorite thing!” “Time to take a nap. That’s my favorite thing!” “A treat, oh, boy! That’s my favorite thing.” “Time for a walk? Get out of town. That’s my favorite thing.” Baths are not one of Scamp’s favorite things, but running around the house like a crazy dog after is.
Scamp is more attached to me than he is to Charlie. If Charlie goes out, Scamp hardly looks up. But when I leave the house, Scamp always gives me this look, like “I can’t believe you’re leaving me here. Alone. Why, I might never see you again.” Then he does the big eyed dog thing, or worse, just mopes with his head on his paws and graces me with a sad glance. Oh, it’s heartbreaking.
I reassure Scamp. Every time I leave the house, whether it’s going to work or to the mail box, I say, “You be a good boy. I’ll be right back.” But it doesn’t seem to do any good.
Now, the flip side of that is when I get home. Scamp is over the moon to see me. He stands at the door, prancing around waiting for me to get out of the car. I open the door and he runs around the house, then puts his little paws up on my legs, waiting to be petted. And runs around a little more and comes back for seconds. Then he goes and messes up the dog cover on the couch. It’s like he’s so excited, he doesn’t know what to do with himself, so he scrunches it up, crawls underneath it, knocking the pillows on the floor. He does this until all his energy just plays out, then he cuddles into the mess and relaxes, making sure he knows where I am every minute.
Here’s Charlie’s little poem, more like a song really, about the little guy:
Mama’s Boy (Scamp’s Song)
Ida’s home, what a great time to
Mess up the couch, mess up the couch!
Push off the pillows, no more slouchin’
Mess up the couch, mess up the couch!
Run to the window, run to the door
This is the part I’ve been waiting for
Jump up and down, let out a roar
I’m no longer alone, yea!
Ida’s home, they told me not to
Mess up the couch, mess up the couch
I don’t care, she won’t scold me
Mess up the couch, mess up the couch!
She likes to cuddle and hold me tight
We play peek-a-boo every night
Mama’s boy, that’s me, all right
Watch her give me a bone
Or a carrot, a slice or two of cheese
I’ll tell ya, life is a breeze
Made for me to sail
All I do, is lick the hand that feeds
Wait to pee in the weeds
And wag my little tail
(It never fails)
He comes home, what do I do?
Give him a sniff, give him a sniff
I’ll get grief for messing the couch
He’s the grouch, gettin’ all miffed
Next to Ida, he’s no match
I don’t care about playin’ catch
Least he’s knows just where to scratch
If he wants me to moan, oh,
Yea, my owners are home!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Mama’s Boy
Upcoming Shows and Book Events: Summer
June 9: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library Literary Luncheon, https://bbhlibrary.org/ 11:30am, Boothbay Harbor, ME
July 8: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Rangeley Public Library, http://rangeleylibrary.org/ 6:00pm, Rangeley, ME
August 5: Ida’s Havin’s a Yard Sale!, Deertrees Theatre, http://www.deertrees-theatre.org/ 7:30pm, Harrison, ME