Trouble In Paradise
By: Darlene Williamson
Many moons ago before the Whiskeyjack prospectors knew their destiny, my "favourite" brother Karl and his lovely wife "Nikni" entrusted their little darlings Jess, Katarina and Bjorn to my care while they gallivanted over the northern frontier seeking to tame more of the wilderness beyond their borders....that's not the real reason of course but since I don't recall, sure does sound poetic!
They briefed me on my responsibilities to which I responded with a casual wave of the hand assuring them not to worry...."all would be fine" upon their return. Smiles and hugs....they were off. I patted the dog affectionately....a huge Newfoundland breed....such a teddy bear. We bounded back to the cabin together. What a life! I sighed contentedly and settled into a blissful afternoon in the "house that Karl built".
My nieces and nephew were model preschoolers in my estimation happily engaged in childhood activity in harmony with their environment.....a real joy to a coddling aunt who longed for some domestic bliss of her own....some day....really soon I prayed!!!!
It was the dead of winter....I scraped away Jack Frost's etching inside the window and peered out....a panorama of wonder, the purest white I had ever seen. "Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow" took on new meaning. The glistening virgin powder had drifted to the bottom of the sill framing a bird's eye view of the frozen lake and ice-glazed trees in all their glory. It took my breath away. Who can say "there is no God" I wondered, totally immersed in the moment. I could hear the comforting crackle of a fire in the wood-burning stove cheerfully emitting warmth. Being here was Heaven on earth!
Just then a tremendous thump and woeful shrieks broke the silence and jarred me back to the reality at hand. Running like a mad woman to save the day I looked in horror as the "teddy bear" had the pet cat (that I didn't even know existed 'til then!) in his mouth shaking it back and forth violently in an attempt to kill the poor thing as pitiful meows were interspersed with the screams of the kids imploring me to rescue it from doom.
My adrenalin kicked in as I lunged toward the vile creature. "You horrible, horrible monster" I screamed with fists pounding on his head which of course did nothing to deter him, so I jumped on his back in an effort to dissuade him from having her for lunch! Up and down, up and down like bouncing on a trampoline. Still no success!! "That's it" I thought "I'll take matters into my own hands....literally"! I grabbed his jaws and forced them open, all the while (knowing that there really is a God) praying "Lord deliver this cat from certain death"!! Amazingly, she was released from his grip and as I held him back, she slinked away slowly, unfortunately a lot worse for wear!! She seemed to be disjointed as she sought refuge on the post and beam above us.
I gave that dog a scornful look and yanked him by his collar to the door. "Get out you beast and stay out"!! I screamed. I tried to slam the door but it stuck in the door jamb so I kicked it in disgust then turned to see Jess, Katarina and Bjorn watching wide-eyed and silent. "I love you guys" I said sheepishly. "But you don't love our dog, do you Aunt Darlene"? Jess inquired. I shook my head "no".
Karl and Nik came home in the evening and "all was fine" upon their return. Karl informed me a few weeks later however that the cat met her demise anyway.....just glad I wasn't there to see it!!
Dar
February 21, 2010
By: Darlene Williamson
Many moons ago before the Whiskeyjack prospectors knew their destiny, my "favourite" brother Karl and his lovely wife "Nikni" entrusted their little darlings Jess, Katarina and Bjorn to my care while they gallivanted over the northern frontier seeking to tame more of the wilderness beyond their borders....that's not the real reason of course but since I don't recall, sure does sound poetic!
They briefed me on my responsibilities to which I responded with a casual wave of the hand assuring them not to worry...."all would be fine" upon their return. Smiles and hugs....they were off. I patted the dog affectionately....a huge Newfoundland breed....such a teddy bear. We bounded back to the cabin together. What a life! I sighed contentedly and settled into a blissful afternoon in the "house that Karl built".
My nieces and nephew were model preschoolers in my estimation happily engaged in childhood activity in harmony with their environment.....a real joy to a coddling aunt who longed for some domestic bliss of her own....some day....really soon I prayed!!!!
It was the dead of winter....I scraped away Jack Frost's etching inside the window and peered out....a panorama of wonder, the purest white I had ever seen. "Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow" took on new meaning. The glistening virgin powder had drifted to the bottom of the sill framing a bird's eye view of the frozen lake and ice-glazed trees in all their glory. It took my breath away. Who can say "there is no God" I wondered, totally immersed in the moment. I could hear the comforting crackle of a fire in the wood-burning stove cheerfully emitting warmth. Being here was Heaven on earth!
Just then a tremendous thump and woeful shrieks broke the silence and jarred me back to the reality at hand. Running like a mad woman to save the day I looked in horror as the "teddy bear" had the pet cat (that I didn't even know existed 'til then!) in his mouth shaking it back and forth violently in an attempt to kill the poor thing as pitiful meows were interspersed with the screams of the kids imploring me to rescue it from doom.
My adrenalin kicked in as I lunged toward the vile creature. "You horrible, horrible monster" I screamed with fists pounding on his head which of course did nothing to deter him, so I jumped on his back in an effort to dissuade him from having her for lunch! Up and down, up and down like bouncing on a trampoline. Still no success!! "That's it" I thought "I'll take matters into my own hands....literally"! I grabbed his jaws and forced them open, all the while (knowing that there really is a God) praying "Lord deliver this cat from certain death"!! Amazingly, she was released from his grip and as I held him back, she slinked away slowly, unfortunately a lot worse for wear!! She seemed to be disjointed as she sought refuge on the post and beam above us.
I gave that dog a scornful look and yanked him by his collar to the door. "Get out you beast and stay out"!! I screamed. I tried to slam the door but it stuck in the door jamb so I kicked it in disgust then turned to see Jess, Katarina and Bjorn watching wide-eyed and silent. "I love you guys" I said sheepishly. "But you don't love our dog, do you Aunt Darlene"? Jess inquired. I shook my head "no".
Karl and Nik came home in the evening and "all was fine" upon their return. Karl informed me a few weeks later however that the cat met her demise anyway.....just glad I wasn't there to see it!!
Dar
February 21, 2010
