The Tail of the boy and dog
Back along time ago when I was still riding the rodeo circuit and just starting out shoeing horses. I was driving to a drop to shoe a few horses of a rodeo rider who was as tuff as any that I have known. He was not going to be there, but his young son was who was about 8 years old was and I knew he would have his dog with him. Now Rodeo people are country people and when they have a dog it’s not like city people, their dog had a reason to be there .It worked the cattle and did what it was told and help the family do its day to day chores. Now that is different from city dogs, because most of them are just pets. Country people have no need for pets that just cost them money and do nothing to help make a living.
With me coming down the road to this man ranch, was a young 16 year old boy who would one day be a real fine horseshoer himself. He was coming to learn a little of the trade. Now this young 16 year old was full of himself and knew everything about everything. You know how you are at that age. His family was large so he knew all about kids, and his Mom had worked with dogs so he knew all about dogs too. So to be on the safe side before we got there I told him, “don’t play with the kid and if his dog was there don’t play with the dog”. He just looked at me and said why? And I told him that they are not like the dogs he has, and that the kid plays as hard as he works, so don’t get them started on something that you can’t finish. Well I through I had it all covered, so I pull up to the Barn and there was the 8 year old and his dog. As we got out I told the 16 year old “now remember what I said”.
Well I got about half way done with the horses, and the 16 year old forgot what I said and started playing with the kid and dog. Now a first it was all going just fine, the 16 year old even stopped for a moment and gave me the look as if to say see I know what I am doing .But somewhere along the way it started to get a little rough and the 8 year old picked up a can of spray paint and was going to spray the 16 year old. Well that is when the 16 year old started to act his age and took the can away from the 8 year old. The 8 year old demanded his can back, or else. The 16 year old said “or else what?” Well that little 8 year old just looked down at his dog and said “sick him”. Well now that 16 year old was tall and long legged, and was running real fast around and around my truck trying to stay ahead of that dog but every few laps around that dog would get close and bit him on the back end and that 16 year old boy would hit another gear and jump up in the air. This went on for a few laps as me and the 8 year old just watch. After a few more laps and a bite or two more the 16 year old make it into the truck. Which made the 8 year old mad, so he went running up to the truck door and started beating on my truck and demanded the 16 year old come out and fight like a man. I had to go and stop him from putting dents in my truck door, the 8 year old was mad and said “ he is mine “ .I told him that was my truck and I had done him no wrong. The young 8 year old say ok but if he came out that that 16 year old was his and he would finish this. I told him don’t worry if he came out I would help him.
As I finished up the young 8 year old by paid me and we said good bye. I got into the truck and the 16 year old said “that kid is mean” and I said “how is your rear end?’” and he said “Its Bleeding from that dog bit” and I sad “Do you remember what I told you?” He said yes. I guess some people don’t’ take any telling .You just never know what will happen next
Thanks Marcus J Pierce
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