Those 70ish Girls

Katie’s father, Steve, had been working behind the scenes doing everything he could to get Katie into a research program that was offered by a hospital in the adjacent state. Katie’s pediatrician had recommended it. He helped Steve complete all of the paperwork and he gave Katie the required tests. Something about Katie’s condition just didn’t fit the profile of a victim of polio.

Steve was coming to the ranch on Saturday to pick his daughter up for her first two weeks at the research center, and he had a big surprise for her.

***I know I’m just a dog, but I can tell when something is up. Everyone is bustling around and I hear them saying Katie’s name all of the time. Miss Bessie and Miss Helen bought her some pretty new dresses and new shoes. Why would she need new stuff just to play on the ranch? We spend our days having picnics under the tree or I push Katie around on the porch in her chair with wheels on it..

I made sure I stayed close to my new friend. I knew she needed me.

“Oh, Katie, you look so beautiful. I can’t wait until your daddy sees you in your new dress.” Grandma Helen gleefully clapped her hands. “You don’t look very happy. What’s wrong, honey?’

“I want to try to get better,” Katie said. “But I don’t want to leave Arf. He needs me.”

“You’re only going to be gone for two weeks at a time, honey. Then you will be home and you can play with Arf all day long. That is, until school starts. Your daddy has worked hard to make this happen. You must be grateful.”

“Sometimes I dream that I can walk,” Grandma Helen.

***Steve got there just in time for a quick lunch before heading back to Jamestown where the research hospital is. I stayed at Katie’s feet the whole time. I knew that she was going to leave. People I love usually do.

Steve got into the truck and Brad lifted Katie up and strapped her in beside him.

I stood there with my tail between my legs.

All of a sudden, I heard Steve yell, “Arf! Arf! come on Arf! You get the seat by the window!”

***I couldn’t believe it. I was going where Katie was going. We were going to be together wherever we were going. I love you, Steve!

“Now, how are you going to take care of a dog at the research hospital? They’ll tell you to turn that truck around and go back home,” Miss Bessie said.

“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” Steve was grinning from ear to ear. “Arf got accepted into the program, too. They’ll be training together. It’s what you call, Animal Assisted Therapy, or AAT. Patients work more diligently and try harder when they work with a dog. Katie will need to work hard and the doctors and I believe Arf will be a great partner for her.”

“Isn’t that wonderful?” Miss Bessie said, and then added. “My…Steve is handsome. This is the first time I’ve seen him without his hardhat on.”

“And he’s such a good father,” Grandma Helen said. “He asked me not to say anything while they were still here, but there is a good chance our little Katie will need to have some extensive surgery.”

In the next few days, Brad couldn’t get his mind off of poor little Katie. She was such a happy little girl and so sweet. If only she could walk. He really wanted to know if she could be helped and he was determined to find out. He told Helen the next time Steve called, he wanted to talk to him.

The opportunity arose the very next evening.

“Brad, Steve is on the phone. I told him you wanted to talk to him.” Helen handed Brad the telephone and then sat down nearby in order to hear what she could of the conversation.

“Hi Steve.” Brad wasn’t as careful with his words as he should have been. “I hope you’ve been able to successfully deal with whatever has taken you away from your daughter.”

“I know how this must look Brad, but I’m here because of Katie. I didn’t want to say anything to Helen or Katie until I knew for sure Katie would be accepted by the hospital doing research on her condition. When I got the call, it was necessary to get here as soon as possible. I’m coming to get Katie this weekend. She will be here for two weeks and then come home for two weeks. This schedule could go on for quite some time.”

Brad felt terrible that he had doubted Steve’s dedication to his daughter. Don’t worry about a thing, Steve. I’m sure it took a lot of work on your part to get Katie accepted. I have to say that I really admire you for persevering. I insist that Helen continue to stay here at the ranch and that you and Katie come here for the two weeks she gets to be home.

“That’s very generous of you, Brad. That will take a load off my mind. Is Miss Bessie there? I need to talk to her about finishing up the barn.”

“Don’t worry about it. There will be time for that later.” Brad felt he had to bring up something else.

“There is one problem you’ll have to deal with, Steve. You’re going to have a heck of a time separating Katie and Arf. They make each other happy and they’re pretty much attached at the hip.”

“I thought as much. I might have a solution to that problem.”

It was a puzzle. Why hadn’t Steve shown up for work? The plan was for him to bring his daughter, Katie, with him because her grandmother, who usually watches her was getting over an illness.

Arf and Katie had really taken to each other and Arf was devastated when it became apparent his new friend wasn’t going to come.”

“Well, Arf,” Miss Bessie said. “We can’t put it off any longer. We must do our chores. It worries me that Steve didn’t give us a call to let us know why he wouldn’t be here, today. I sure hope he and Katie are okay.”

***I’m a pretty smart dog, but things happen to me that I just can’t understand. I miss Jamie, but I love my new life with Miss Bessie, too. It makes me feel good to be able to help her out with things, and I think she feels safer with me around. She’s getting to be pretty old to be living on a farm by herself.

“You know what, Arf? I’m getting to be pretty old to be living on a farm by myself. I’ve always known the day would come when it would no longer be safe for me to live alone here, but where would I go? I can’t think of one place that I would be as happy as I am here, so I guess I’ll just stay where I am. Besides, for now at least, I have you to keep me company. Come on, let’s go see what’s growing in the garden.”

***It was the longest day. I never left Miss Bessie’s side. It seemed that one day, I had all kinds of people around me, and the next, it was just back to Miss Bessie and me.

“I think we should go into town tomorrow, Arf. It will get our minds off of things. It’s always good to change the scenery when you have a heavy heart and worries on your mind. We can take our eggs to the General Store and sell them. Then we can go across the street to the little food stand that sells the delicious fried chicken and honey biscuits. Sounding good to you Arf?

***Was she kidding? my mouth was watering. I love chicken and biscuits.

The next day, we did just as Miss Bessie said we would. We went to the General Store to sell our eggs and then ate our chicken and biscuits at the park in the center of downtown. I even found a little boy to throw the frisbee to me while his mom talked to Miss Bessie.

“You are not going to believe this, Arf. That woman knows Katie’s grandmother. Remember? She cares for her while Steve works. The nice woman gave me the grandmother’s address and we’re going to go see her. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Katie was there?”

***I had a funny feeling when we walked up to the front door. I know I’m just a dog, but It wasn’t a very nice place and Katie was a really nice little girl.

Miss Bessie knocked on the door and it was the longest time before it opened…

I couldn’t believe it. There was Katie in her wheel chair.

“Oh, Arf,” she said as she turned to look behind her. “Grandma, this is Miss Bessie and Arf. Can they come in?”

“Goodness yes,” the lady said. An older woman barely five feet tall came bustling toward the door. She had bright red hair and wore a turquoise dress with matching long earrings.

“I’m so sorry. I have looked high and low for the phone number Steve gave to me. He made me promise to call you and explain what happened. Oh dear…you must have been so concerned.”

Katie held her arms out to Arf who didn’t take much encouraging before running to her side.

“Please tell me what happened Mrs ?”

“Please call me Helen. Katie’s mother is my daughter. She left without a word, almost eight years ago. It hasn’t been easy for Steve, but he has done his best to care for Katie. I try to help, but it gets more difficult for me each year.”

“I understand,” Miss Bessie said. “Please tell me what happened. Where is Steve now?”

“Um…he was suddenly called away,” Helen said, nervously.

A lot is happening in the world of Miss Bessie and Arf. Steve, the carpenter, is doing the repairs on the barn and today, he brought his eight year old daughter, Katie, with him. Jamie went back to college for a month and to Miss Bessie’s delight, left Arf with her. Brad is still a mystery. He had just arrived at Miss Bessie’s house and she wasn’t wasting any time trying to get information.

“Do you have any idea why Jamie would seem so preoccupied, Brad?”

“Not a clue, Miss Bessie,” he said. “Right before she left, she was talking about what she might want to do this summer. I invited her to come back to the ranch and stay.”

“I’m assuming she was hesitant. I’m also pretty sure it offended you when she didn’t jump at your generous invitation.”

“You have pretty much nailed the whole situation, Miss Bessie.”

“Let me explain, Brad. Jamie doesn’t know you that well. You have your cook and housekeeper living there so it’s not a case of inappropriateness, but three months is a long time to commit to living somewhere. A girl needs more than a moments notice.”

“I think I get what you’re saying, Miss Bessie. She also probably wants to scout out possible places to do her internship in the fall.”

“How rude were you, Brad?” Miss B was giving him a look.

“Rude enough,” he answered. “I’m not sure it was a good idea anyway.”

Brad changed the subject before Miss Bessie had time to dig a little deeper. He hadn’t noticed Steve who was getting his tools out of the truck.”Who is the little girl petting Arf?”

***If only dogs could talk. The world would be a much better place. In the meantime, I’m over here falling in love with Katie. She seems to really like me, too. Miss Bessie interrupted my thoughts.

She asked Steve to bring Katie over to the porch.

“Steve, do you know Brad Humbolt?” Steve is repairing all the damage to the barn.”

“Yes, I believe we’ve met,” Brad said. “Hello Steve…it’s been a while.”

“Katie is Steve’s daughter. She’s going to spend the morning with Arf and me.”

Brad and Steve nodded hello to each other and then Brad said he had to get back to the ranch.

Miss B reached for Katie’s hand. “I’m so happy to have you here, Katie. I think Arf is too.”

**I was crossing my paws hoping Miss B would let me stick around with Katie and her. I have never played with a little human before and Katie even has her own chair with wheels. I pushed her back and forth on the porch and she laughed. She threw the frisbee to me a whole bunch of times. Even though she couldn’t throw it very far, we both had fun. And then…when Miss B brought lemonade and cookies out, Katie dropped a whole half a cookie under the table, right next to me. It was peanut butter…my favorite kind.

When Steve was ready to go, Miss Bessie told him how much we enjoyed having Katie here and that he could bring her anytime.

“Thank you, Miss B. Her grandmother usually watches her, but she wasn’t feeling well today. If I need to bring Katie here, I will call first… like I did this morning.”

“Please bring Katie back tomorrow. It will give the poor woman another day of rest. Does your wife work, too, Steve?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t seen or heard from her since shortly after Katie was born. See you in the morning Miss Bessie.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow, Katie. We’ll do something fun.”

After everyone left, Miss Bessie fed me supper and then she ate her meal. “Well Arf,” she said. “Now we have two mysteries to solve…and a little matchmaking to do.”

**I heard her, but I was almost asleep. Katie was coming tomorrow.

This morning, after we finished the chores, Miss B and I sat on the front porch and waited for Steve’s truck to pull in. I was excited for Katie to get there.

But Katie and Steve never came.

I wore a hat to church today. It was candy apple red. 

I heard a man behind me say, “That hat could wake the dead!”

Oh, it didn’t hurt my feelings none. I’d pretty much decided…

That funny looking hat would cost me all I’d ever prided.

I never was a classy one. I got no notions to dispel.

I only just found out, my Easter hat should be pastel.

I have to live within my means which mostly are a minus.

‘Sides, the pink hat wouldn’t fit my head. It swolled up from sinusitis.

The onliest dress that fits looks like an Easter egg done died.

Couldn’t find no red to match my hat. Can’t say I really tried.

When I got home from church I found my hat was all askew. 

I shoulda pinned it to my head like Grandma used to do.  

Don’t mind the troubles with my hat, I loved the sermon and the songs.

I knew before the last amen, I was right where I belongs.

I’ll go back agin next week and sit right where I sat.

You’ll know zackly who I am…I’ll be wearin my red hat.

I wore a hat to church today and I’m sure glad I did.

Cause you’ll know me when you see me, if I don’t flip my bright red lid!

Jamie had to return to veterinarian school for one more month before the summer break. She and Arf were on their way to see Miss Bessie. Jamie wanted to have a conversation with her about Arf’s care…now and in the future. The more she thought about it, the more she thought Brad’s suggestion to share this amazing dog with Miss B, was a great idea. One that could work out for the benefit of all.

“Are you and Arf on your way back to school?” Miss Bessie was thrilled they had stopped by. It had been a long two weeks without Arf in her life.

“Yes, I have to get back today, but I need to talk with you first. Clearly, I owe you an apology. I have kept Arf from you and you from him for the past two weeks. You two love each other and that was hurtful and not fair. Please forgive me.”

“Of course, dear,” Miss Bessie said. “Arf belongs to you and for a while, you thought you had lost him forever.”

“Miss Bessie, if you’re willing, Arf and I would like for you to be a big part of his life. Brad suggested you could be Arf’s grandhuman. How would you feel about that?”

Miss B didn’t answer right away and Jamie was beginning to think she had offended her when she finally spoke.

“I would be honored,” she said. “I would like that more than anything in the world. I must admit when I thought I would have the total responsibility for Arf’s welfare, I was a little concerned. Arf is a young dog and is likely to outlive me. I worried about what would happen to him.”

“And I worry about him becoming too lonely when I’m preoccupied with my studies,” Jamie added. “Which brings me to our current need. Would you be willing to have Arf stay here for the next month? I still haven’t made plans for the summer months. I can’t think that far ahead right now.”

“You can’t possibly know how much that would mean to me,” Miss B said. “I promise to take good care of him.”

“Oh I have no doubt he’ll be in good hands…. I need to get on the road, but first I have something in the jeep that I want to give to Arf. Come on Arfie!”

Arf and Miss B followed Jamie outside. Jamie reached into the back of the Jeep and pulled out a beautiful, new frisbee for Arf and flowers for Miss B.

“Miss Bessie,” Jamie hesitated a moment before continuing. “Do you know anything about Brad’s family?”

“I’ve been curious about that, too,” Miss B said. “Busybody that I am, I asked Alice, his cook if Brad had inherited that beautiful ranch from his parents. She assured me he had built it up on his own. She said Brad’s parents and a sister had died in a fire when he was just sixteen. Apparently he has a younger brother somewhere. Alice also told me there was no finer man than Brad Humbolt.