Howdy everybody. It’s me, Karl.
I am here to tell you about Turkey Day in the Bahamas. If you have been following along, we were docked at the fancy marina at Green Turtle Cay. I had been waiting for this day. The only good bird is a bird in my bowl. That is my position and I will not be moved on it.
It started early. Very early. I run a tight ship and Dad does not always appreciate that. I did my patrol around the inside of the boat and touched my nose to his foot. He said bedtime Karl. I laid down. I waited. I touched his foot again. Bedtime Karl. I laid down again. This went on for quite some time. Without me, he would sleep for hours. Hours. Someone has to be responsible around here and I take that job seriously.
When he finally got up he started the coffee and then it was time to gear up. Sister only wears her collar because she has Loopies. Mom calls it Discoid Lupus. It gives her sores on her skin and a harness would hurt her. I wear my harness because Dad says I am squirrely. I do not know what that means but it sounds like something I should ask my doctor about because it does not sound good.
I was excited about the new day. I am excited about every day. So I twirled. And whined. And squealed. And twirled some more. Dad was hooking Sister up and she just stood there like some kind of reasonable dog, which is not a compliment. I tried to take the shortcut between Dad’s legs. He closed the shortcut. He has clearly done this before. Before I knew it the harness was on and we were headed to shore. Unexpected. But fine. We had places to be.
When we got back Mom was up and working. Even on Turkey Day. Dad made breakfast and I supervised with great skill and focus. The eggs in the Bahamas are something special. People sell them fresh and they are delicious. Dad mixed them into our kibble and even that was good. We sat around talking about the day. Mom had work. Dad had boat jobs. And then.
Then Dad said it.
I heard it with my own big beautiful Shep ears, and I still could not believe it.
He said Sugar and I had to stay home. That we could not go to Thanksgiving dinner. WHAT. No turkey. We had to stay home. I could not process this information. I stood very still for a moment trying to understand what had just happened to my life.
Sorry buddy. People only event.
The restaurant was just a few minutes down the dock near the marina office. It might as well have been on the moon.
When dinner time came Dad put my kibble down and I looked at it and walked away. I am not eating that. Not tonight. Not after what just happened.
They left. Mom felt bad. I could hear her saying so as they walked off the boat. They made me stay inside before they left because they were worried I would follow them to the restaurant. I want to be clear that I have never left the boat without permission. However Dad said something about there being a first time for everything and someone muttered too smart for his own good. So inside I stayed. I watched through the porthole. That is what sailors call a window. I watched them walk down the dock and disappear into the restaurant. I could smell the turkey from there. I laid down on the floor and whined and felt my feelings.
About ten hours later I heard Dad’s voice. Okay it was not ten hours but it was a long time. They were coming back down the dock. I tried to play it cool. I could not. The twirling started before they even reached the boat. Sister woke up and looked at me. Her look said stop it. I did not stop it.
Twirl. Whine. Squeal. Repeat.
Dad opened the door. Hi Buddy! HI DAD. I MISSED YOU DAD. SOMETHING SMELLS AMAZING.
He had a package. He unwrapped it.
CHICKEN.
Not turkey but honestly who cares. He put it on my kibble and I inhaled it. Gone. Do you have more. No it is all gone. Dad scratched my head and then we went up on deck and watched the last of the sun going down over the water. The Bahamas at sunset. My people next to me.
It turned out to be the best day ever.
Karl out.