This is a story I have shared before, but some things are worth repeating. Especially for the newer folks here.
I'm like the Seedman, always seem to get along with all animals. In fact, some of my best friends in life have been dogs. There was a long time, when, in the cooler months, we would bring our dog to work with us. Even still, unless I'm at work, I am usually with my dog.
We stopped bringing the dog to work after an incident that occurred a few years back. It was a glorious autumn day, the leaves we just past their peak and the outdoor air temp was in the mid 50's. The day was scheduled to deliver two area rugs in separate homes about sixty miles apart. The first was a small dining room rug, about 7' x 11' and the second stop was a larger 14' x 18' for a family room.
Needless to say, the larger rug required us to keep the van door ajar with a bungee cord. Sukee, my precious German Shepherd girl dog, in her glory, was along for the ride. She always stayed in the van, even if the doors were completely opened. Heck, she often sits in the van while it's in the dooryard. Anyways, to make a long story short, we knew the first customer would not home so we let ourselves in and spread the rug in place. Upon leaving we got in the truck and my wife asks 'where's Sukee?'
After not seeing her, I called her name. She promptly came out from the customer's back yard carrying a very dead rabbit in her mouth. She was so proud! We were both a bit startled and after finally getting it away from her and brushing the saliva and dirt off, we realized this was not a wild rabbit but a pet.
My wife said she saw rabbit pens on our customers back porch and when we went to look, sure enough, there they were. Six pens. Five with rabbits and one very noticeably empty. The pen door was shut, but the name tag read 'Scamper'. All the other pens had names on theirs and our stomaches began to sink when we realized that dirty, muddy bundle of fur had to be Scamper.
It was at this time that my wife began to freak.
'David, you have to do something', she always says that when we both know there is nothing anyone can do. All I could think of was the kids coming home from school only to learn that Scamper had died a terrible death at the paws of an evil dog!
This may sound strange but the only thing I could think of to do was clean the bunny up. With no one home, I took little Scamper into the bathroom, washed off the dirt, dog spit and mud. I tried to fluff him up a bit with a towel when I noticed the hair dryer on the shelf. Hey, no pun intended, but the hair dryer worked like a charm. In a few quick minutes I had scamper looking furry and fluffy enough to make any bunny proud. As soon as I was done I carefully placed Scamper back in his cage and latched the door.
At least this way the kids would think Scamper died peacefully in his sleep, which is still sad, but, no where near as bad as being chased around the yard and shook till his little neck snapped like a twig by some big old German Shepherd Dog!
Meanwhile, my sweet bride, had been waiting in the truck for me to
'do something'. As we pulled out of the yard I noticed she was crying, not a good sign.
After a few minutes she stopped crying and asked me what did they say? What did who say, I asked. The customer, she said, what did the customer say about the rabbit?
Well, I didn't call them, exactly. What did you do, she asked. She was done crying and had moved into her interrogation mode.
As I told her what I did, she seemed to get even more upset.
I told her what was done can not be undone, I tried to reason with her...
... like I should have known better, yet, I am a man, so I tried. The bunny was dead and, as sad as the discovery of Scamper's death would be, the thought of him being murdered would be ....
Anyhoo, my sweet bride was no longer sweet and it became clear that I was going to have to tell the customer the truth, the whole truth.
OK, but at least let's get this second rug delivered and we'll stop by the customers house on our way back home.
It was one of the longest drives I have ever taken. By the time we made it back to the customers house it was almost five o'clock. Great, not only can I tell the customers, I can tell the kids too!
When we pulled onto the street, there yard was full of car's and two police cars were in the street. We walked up to the house just as two police officers were walking out talking to the customers. What's going on? I carefully asked, and here's the rest of the story as to why Sukee doesn't go to work anymore.
It seems that the kids got home from school at about 3:30 like they do everyday. The baby sitter, a nice high school girl who lives up the street, meets them and stays until Mom gets home at five. Everything was going along quietly because the kid's were all sad because their beloved rabbit Scamper had died the day before. The family wrapped Scamper in a towel and had a very nice funeral for that evening followed by a burial in the back yard. Then today, the kid's come home from school and find Scamper in his cage!
Well, the kid's started freaking out and crying, the baby sitter starts freaking thinking the house is haunted when the youngest of the three kids, a boy about seven, says, this is an emergency, and dial's 911.
WOW!
That's when they ask the million dollar question, so why are you here?
gulp..., uh, I was wondering if we left a tape measure on the kitchen table? Did anyone find a tape measure on the kitchen table?... no, that's OK, I can see you have a lot going on, if you do find it, just give me a call.
And that is why workman should never bring their dogs to work with them. Oh, by the way, before anyone goes thinking I'm insane, there is absolutely no truth to this story other than I do have a dog named Sukee and I do work with my wife. Other than that, it's all a story.
But, ya gotta admit, it's a good story and a great one to tell customers, if you can remember it all.
With kindest regards to all,
Dobby
