Addi

Addi lay sprawled out flat on the gravel outside the door to the
house. The early morning sunshine caressing her shiny chestnut coat.
Although she looked as though she was sleeping, one ear was kept cocked
for every sound. She was waiting for the farmer to complete his
early-morning chores so that they could go for their first walk of the
day, whilst the dew was still on the ground and the scent of the
animals that roamed and scavenge at night was still on the fresh
smelling air.

Ah! That was the clang of the buckets. It came from the barn. That
meant he had finished feeding the calves. Soon the door would creak
open, the farmer would come out and they would be off. She sat up in
anticipation, her legs splayed out in front of her, one floppy ear
turned back giving her a quizzical air. The farmer came out of the barn
and headed for the house. It was obviously too soon. She could smell
coffee being made, now that was a good sign, they always went out after
he had had his morning coffee. She settled into a light doze again,
lulled by the noise of the radio and other domestic sounds coming from
the house.

Suddenly, the door opened and out came the farmer. She had been caught
off guard, she jumped to her feet and pulled the chain that tethered
her to the wall. How she hated that chain, it stopped her running round
the farmyard having fun chasing chickens. They had squawked and flapped
their wings trying to get out of her way. The farmer had been cross and
it was then that he put her on the long chain. He said that it was her
fault that they had stopped laying!

Addi realised she had to take over the duties of the old dog who had
been retired. He was allowed to stay in the kitchen. His name was Duke.
She now knew that it was her job to look after the house and bark to
warn the household if anyone came.

She turned to see where the farmer was but her legs seemed to have a
will of their own. If she wasn't careful they got tangled. They had
grown suddenly and were quite beyond her control.

The geese were honking in a shed at the top of the hill. He must have
gone up there to let them out and give them their breakfast. Perhaps
they would be off when he got back. She stood wagging her tail in happy
anticipation, but when he returned he went back indoors. Well perhaps
next time they would go. She lay down again basking in the sun shine,
listening to the sounds that wafted on the warm almost still air. It
was going to be another hot day.

She heard the radio being turned off and the jingle of keys as they
were taken off their hook. The farmer came out of the house carrying
her lead and his gun. She jumped up with delight, tail wagging, full of
anticipation. This was wonderful, they were going rabbiting. But
instead are coming towards her, he went over to where the rabbit
hutches stood under a lean-to beside the barn. What did those pesky
rabbits want with her lead?

She stood with her head on one side trying to fathom out what was
happening. Why was he taking her lead over to the rabbits? They were
not much fun! They did not go for walks! She had tried to make them
play chase, she had jumped up trying to scare them, she had barked at
them, but all to no avail. They just stared back blankly and continued
to chew their hay. They did not act like rabbits at all! She watched as
the farmer pulled some grass and opened a bin of oats and fed each
one.

She kept jumping up and down, yelping all the time trying to hurry him
up, he was very slow! At last! He had finished giving the rabbits their
food and water and was on the way back. She could hardly contain
herself with joy. Jumping round and round she got tangled in the chain.
He made her sit quietly whilst he undid it and attached her lead. Then
picking up his gun, he led her out of the gate and down the lane.

Addi wondered where they were going but when they turned down another
lane she guessed that they were heading for a large meadow near the
main road where the rabbits lived in the sandy man-made bank. A river
skirted the other side and a spiny lay at the end giving shelter to
large animals.

She wished the farmer would walk faster. She tried pulling him along
but he held her lead tight holding her back. He said she had to walk
quietly at his side as cars sometimes sped along here. She had never
seen any vehicles! She could hear the sounds of vehicles on the main
road, but they never turned down here. She tried harrying ahead again,
wanting to get to the field before the sun, which was getting higher
and hotter, would scorch the earth and eradicate all the best
scents.

Suddenly, there was a whoosh and a loud honking, which made her jump
for the safety of the hedge. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the
back of a white van going round the bend in the lane. The van stopped
and backed up. Oh no! It was their neighbour, they would be talking for
hours! She felt very sheepish standing in the hedge so she jumped down
and sat beside the farmer. She put her nose in the back his knee and
pushed. Maybe she could get him moving that way! But they kept on
talking. She could smell the rabbits from where she sat, perhaps if she
went by herself, he would follow, but she had forgotten about the lead!
She could not understand what they said, they seemed to be talking
nonsense. She wished they would hurry.

At last the van drove away and they were off, continuing their walk
down the lane. When they got to the gate the farmer let her off the
lead. Freedom at last! She bounded across the field to where the river
sparkled in the sunshine, cool and inviting. There were fish jumping
out of the water catching flies. Now that was a good game! She slid
down the slippery bank and into the water to join in the fun. But when
she got to where the fish had been leaping, they all swam away down the
stream. She tried to swim after them but they were too fast and the
ripples that she made in the water covered their escape. She climbed
out on the bank and shook the water from her coat. The movement
starting at her nose and working right down her body until it reached
the tip of her tail. Droplets of water shook in all directions,
sparkling in the sunshine like diamonds.

She felt good after the swim and looked around for the farmer. He was
still a very long way behind. She caught the smell of rabbits on the
air and bounded after them. They fled to the warren. She was just in
time to see their white fluffy tails disappearing down the holes in the
bank. She stuck her head in a hole trying to see where they had gone.
It was dark in there but there was a wonderful smell of rabbit. Sounds
of rustling were coming from way down in the earth. She could only get
her long nose down the hole, so she dug at the surrounding soil trying
to enlarge it. Dirt went in all directions. The farmer came up and
grabbed her by the collar and pulled her away. He was cross. She was
not to chase the rabbits down their burrows. He could not shoot them
down there!

He told Addi to follow him to the wood to see if she could find
anything to shoot. The wood was shady and cool and there was many
tantalising smells. She ran about wildly barking madly. Birds flew
squawking from the trees and the undergrowth, where they were hiding.
Small animals scuttled in all directions. The farmer tried to shoot one
or two. He missed as he did not have enough time to get them in his
sights.

Soon he said that that was enough of this madness and they would go
back to the farm. After lunch they would come out again with Duke, who
would show her how to behave properly. He put her on her lead and led
her home. When they got back there he attached her chain and gave her a
drink of water. She was on guard duty again.

The day grew hotter and hotter. The gravel where Addi lay was beginning
to burn her side, she would have to move soon, but she was too tired
and drowsy to bother. An ant ran across her nose. She shook her head in
disbelief and looked to see where it had come from. The ants were
starting to make a trail across the ground and over her nose! What were
they doing? They had built a cool nest in an ant hill and were moving
the eggs to put them under a flat stone at the side the path where they
would be warmer. This would make them hatch quicker. She laid her head
down again but still they ran over her nose! How could she stop them?
She put her paw out to stop them but they just ran over the top. When
she took her paw away, they continued their relentless tracking to and
fro, oblivious of her existence.

She decided she would have to move out of their way and anyway, she was
getting too hot, it was time that she moved. She got to her feet, shook
herself to get rid of the ants and moved over to lie on the soft grass
under a large tree. It's great branches spreading a leafy green shadow
over the surrounding ground. It was cool here and perhaps she would be
able to have a nap in peace. Everyone else seemed to be having a nap.
The farmer had gone back indoors. The birds were sitting on the
branches above her head keeping out of the hot midday sun. Even the
farm cat had curled up under the hedge, when she usually liked to sleep
stretched out along the top of the wall, basking in the sun's rays.
Nothing seemed to be moving. She stretched out and went to sleep.

She woke up with a jump. She could hear the sounds of movement coming
from the farmhouse. She sat up looking around, hoping that something
would happen. She could see the farmer coming out the house. He was
carrying her lead and his gun and at his side trotted the old dog. She
had to admit that he had been very handsome in his day. He was an
Alsatian and looked every inch the part. Now, he hobbled a bit and had
grown a little plump. He was also grey round the muzzle, but his eyes
were bright and he could still distinguish all the different animals
scents.

They came straight over to where she was sitting and the farmer put her
on the lead. She noticed that the other dog was not on a lead, he was
able to go where he liked. They set off down the lane, she wished they
would hurry. The farmer and the other dog were walking very quietly
along the road. She tried running ahead but was restrained by the lead.
The farmer said that they should walk nicely together and when she had
learnt do this, she would also be let to walk free.

At last they arrived at the large meadow they had visited that morning
but the farmer still did not let her off the lead. It was cooler now
and she could see the rabbits who lived on the far bank going to the
river to drink. Good! Perhaps they would play with her in the water.
The farmer told her to be quiet and set the other dog off to chase the
rabbits. This was too much but she knew he would be cross if she
disobeyed, so she sat by his side and watched as the dog crawled on his
stomach to put himself between the rabbits and their burrows. He moved
slowly, keeping low when the rabbits looked up. They sat up, noses
twitching, ears pricked searching for danger, but they did not notice
the dog until he was quite close. Suddenly one saw him and thumped its
back legs loudly on the ground to alert the others. They scattered in
all directions trying to get back to the safety of their burrows. Their
white bob tails flashing a warning to the rest. The farmer lifted his
gun are managed shoot two. He let her off the lead and told her to
fetch one while the Duke fetched the other. When she returned with the
rabbit he was very pleased and called her a good girl.

They walked down to the wood where the dogs were sent on to search for
something for the farmer to shoot. Perhaps they would find a deer
nibbling at the short grass in a sun dappled clearing. Addi walked
beside Duke mimicking his moves. He kept his head down finding animal
tracks on the ground, following their scent with his black shiny nose.
They went further and further into the woods, the leafy canopy of the
trees casting a cool green light over the two dogs. Round a corner she
was startled by birds flying squawking into the air. The farmer shot
and hit one bird. Duke ran into the bushes to retrieve the falling
bird. This made the farmer very happy. He called to the dogs and they
returned home.

When she got back to the farmhouse Addi
was tired out but very pleased with herself. They had managed to
retrieve some dead rabbits but it was not as much fun as chasing the
live rabbits into their burrows