The things one does for love!

When I was six, my father brought home a 10-week-old black/brindle bitser. He’d won her at a card game after work at a ‘Comet’ transport yard. She was named Comet and spent the next 16 years being a total joy to her loving family. She was a beautiful, patient, loyal and fun-loving dog, and had absolutely no looks to match. I have so many funny memories of her till I don’t know where to start.

She could not resist the alluring aroma of ‘dead things’ and was always puzzled at our reaction when she’d arrive home covered from nose to tail in her favourite scent. Rather than praised and admired, she was always put through the worst punishment imaginable to her – a bath. At the first exclamation of ‘Pwarh, Comet!’ she would begin to shake uncontrollably. Her tail would go so far under her belly till she looked like a whippet in full flight. Out would come the hose and shampoo and she wouldn’t stop shaking until it was time for THE TOWEL.

That was a different story! Being rubbed and rubbed until her short hair fluffed out like a Samoyed’s was her idea of heaven. She’d race around the yard and pelt straight for whoever was holding the towel – if they weren’t barrelled over, they’d give her another rub and she’d be off again.

The towel was just one incarnation of heaven for her. There was also ‘Grandma’s house’ where she was guaranteed treats and hour-long walks (off leash in those days) and ‘The Beach’ which was an unending delight of sand and seagulls to chase. At the first mention of either of these words her ears would go straight up and her head would tilt. At the second mention, after many barks of agreement and a tail in danger of falling off, you’d have to open the door or else....!

As she’d grown up with two young children (I was six and my sister was two when she arrived on the scene), she was an extremely patient soul. Being little girls, we liked to dress up dolls, but why bother with dolls when your dog was so obliging? We had a large collection of mum's old 60’s gear. Comet could be seen in anything from sunglasses and mini skirts to frilly nighties with mop caps. It was this last combination that completed her look one cold, overcast day. She had a large white lacy nightie (tied underneath to keep her from tripping), a pioneer-style ‘mop cap’ on her head – tied neatly at her throat – and four white baby socks on her feet. All you could see of her was the tip of her black tail and her eyes and nose.

We noticed our neighbour’s granddad, who was visiting from Switzerland, sitting on their letterbox across the road and presumably taking in the Australian suburban landscape. So  we opened the door and said to Comet, "Go and say hello", pointing in the man’s direction. I don’t suspect Comet felt completely at ease with herself, but she couldn’t resist interacting with a human. Off she sauntered, wagging her tail and baring her teeth in her own unique smile. You can imagine our laughter when we saw the look on the granddad’s face as he turned and saw Comet coming to him.

According to our neighbour later, it took the poor old man several seconds to realise what this thing was, and then several more to realise that she wanted a pat! He obliged, making Comet happy, and went home to Switzerland with a slightly different view of life in our country.
 

True story by Lisa Musgrove from Australia

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