I had just returned to Missouri. I found a nice home in a small hamlet along the Osage River and surrounded by farmland. The town was a former mill town with a river transportation access. Today it is a small community of about 40 homes and 100 residents. The town still has a small market, cafe, post office and large Catholic Church. The market is also the gas station and the cafe serves as the local tavern.
In a short amount of time I had become familiar with my next door neighbors. The cafe owner, and the lady at the post office. My two close neighbors were elderly widows. The lady at the post office I saw daily, and because I was a single man who dined out regularly, the cafe owner saw me often. Other than these few people, I felt like an unwanted outsider.
On a visit from my daughter she decided I need a dog. So, my daughter and I took a trip to the local animal shelter. Local meant about 35 miles away from my new home. My daughter picked out a female pup. “She looks like a Sadie,” my daughter exclaimed.
Sadie was a lab-chow mix breed. She had a black curly coat with white paws and a brown stripe on her snout. Sadie had one brown eye and one eye of a blue and white mix. Sadie was very friendly and energetic.
I had adopted Sadie in late fall. Thus, housetraining was difficult. In the beginning she would rather expel her waste and her excessive energy in the house.
Finally, one day around Christmas, Sadie laid waste by the Christmas tree. I decided to try a new tactic. After scolding her and pointing her nose to the aromatic pile, I put the waste in a bag, tied the bag around her neck and leashed her outside in the snow.
After half an hour, Sadie got the message. She never relieved herself in the house again. Also, she discovered she could handle the cold weather and loved snow.
Starting in early spring of Sadie’s first year, I let her run free in the house at night. During the day, I would tether her outside with plenty of line for movement. Sadie became my alarm clock. Every morning at 6 a.m. she would put her front paws on my bed and shake me awake. This included Saturdays and Sundays. Apparently, she could tell time. She just couldn’t tell what day of the week it was.
One day, I arrived home to find Sadie unleashed and gone. I never had to call for Sadie outside. I just whistled and she‘d come running. So, I whistled. In a flash, there she was. Panting hard and happy as could be. Later that evening, my neighbor came to my door with fresh baked cookies. She confessed to releasing Sadie earlier during the day. More so, she said Sadie had been released by her and other people in the area. “I enjoy taking Sadie with me on my daily walks,” she said. “We walk and visit other town folk. Sadie is so well behaved and loved by everyone we see.” This all was fine with me. I didn’t have to fret about Sadie being tied up all day and at least she was getting to know the people in town. It seemed as if Sadie was the only dog in town.
On a return home one late Friday afternoon, Sadie was as usual gone. I whistled. After a few minutes, she didn’t return. My neighbor hadn’t seen her for a few hours since the time she released Sadie and they had went on their walk. She said Sadie usually visited other people during the day and spent time walking the mailman through town. So, I went for walk. Up and down the four short streets of town. I whistled and searched. Getting worried, weary and thirsty I decided to stop into the cafe for a cold beverage. Well...it was Friday night and I wasn’t driving.
I was met at the door by Sadie. She was happy, rambunctious, and ready to go with me. The cafe owner told me that Sadie would come there often for lunch. All the local patrons enjoyed her company and fed her during their meals while she lounged under their tables.
After living in this quiet community for two years, I had to re-locate to the city. Upon hearing this, the town citizens wanted to adopt Sadie. “Can we keep Sadie?” my neighbors asked. “Most of the town folk want her to stay.” But, they were not asking me. Most of them didn’t know me. They knew Sadie. There was even a suggestion to auction Sadie off to the highest bidder. At first I was unwilling to let Sadie go. Like everyone else, I loved Sadie. Besides, she was my dog! Then one fateful day, my mind was made up for me.
In fall of my second year in Sadie’s little hamlet, Sadie and I trekked up the hill to the picnic area of the Catholic Church. It was fall festival time. As soon as we came through the woods to the festival area on a ridge overlooking the river, Sadie was off and running.
I watched in amazement as Sadie ran from group to group. Practically everyone knew her. They called her by name. She was the only dog there. So, I sat watching Sadie in her joyous state and I listened to the live Bluegrass band. After awhile, I bought a hot dog and a cool beverage. Eventually, Sadie came back to me. As I sat on the bench enjoying the music and the beautiful day, Sadie sat by me with her head on my leg. We were enjoying the day. Then I hear it. From a group of senior ladies standing behind us. I hear, “Who’s that man with Sadie?”
I gave Sadie to the town and with tears in my eyes, I left for the city.
Written by Dennis Cross
Former (2002-04) resident of
Bonnots Mill
