Freckles Best Trick
I have lived in the same house for the last 20 years. But for
18 of those years I had hardly met, much less spoke with any of my neighbors.
In June of 1998 we had an addition to our circus family. Freckles was 10 pounds
of all ears and legs when we first got her. I'm a little old for the, "She
followed me home can I keep her routine". But at 40 years of age perhaps I felt
that maybe I could be responsible enough to care for her.
I hoped to incorporate Freckles into my clowning but I was not set on it. I just
wanted her in my life even if I was not able to teach her to perform. I adopted
Freckles from the local dog rescue group, Pet Lifeline.
We began training the day she arrived by taking a nice stroll around the
neighborhood.
After about a month or so of walks around our block I noticed a curious thing,
my neighbors would appear from their homes and yards all along our route to chat
with me about Freckles. Through our daily walks Freckles and I have met with
nearly all of our neighbors. There are the Schultz's who have 3 strapping dogs
of their own. Mrs. Harris who always makes sure Freckles has a treat. The Atkins
family and their 4 boys who are always willing to indulge Freckles in her
favorite pastime, chasing rocks. The Duncan's, a nice elderly couple, are always
interested in seeing Freckles latest trick. Freckles has learned to stop and go
on the command of red light, green light. She has learned to jump through a hula
hoop, dance, play pat-a-cake, reach for the sky and then fall down dead when
shot, shoot a basketball through a hoop, give 5, plant a kiss. Freckles best
trick by far though has been her ability to bring distant neighbors closer to
form a true neighborhood.