Samantha's Talent (7 page)

"Where does she live? Is it very far from us?"

"No, ma'am, it's just a couple of blocks over on Rucker road."

Elaine was reluctant but finally gave her permission. "Just remember, this isn't Alaska. Don't talk to strangers. And don't you dare say a word about talking to animals. You hear me?"

"I won't Mom. I promise."

"Very well, just be back well before dark and don't be late for dinner."

"Yes ma'am," Samantha said hurriedly. She pulled on a light sweater against an early cold front and left quickly. Shufus, as usual, tagged right by her side, never straying far. He knew that one of his primary duties was to protect Samantha from anything that might threaten her.

Elaine watched her daughter from the front window as she skipped eagerly along with Shufus right by her side. So long as the dog was with her she wouldn't worry much. He was very protective of Samantha and he acted as... almost as if he understood every word she said to him. She shook her head at the unwanted thought. Of course she couldn't talk to animals, not and make them understand her. No one could do that! Sometimes she wondered how Samantha would have turned out had she been able to have more children. Unfortunately, complications with her pregnancy had necessitated a hysterectomy at the end. She had kept her ovaries, fortunately. She still thought wistfully that it might have been helpful if her daughter had siblings to play with as she was growing up.

***

Betty opened the door just wide enough to let Samantha inside. She saw the dachshund Tuffy just behind her, probably waiting to streak past her and get outside, she thought. At the sight of Shufus, however, Tuffy backed away with a low growl. Shufus looked up at Samantha for direction.

"It's okay, Shufus," she said. "I don't think he really wants to fight. His name is Tuffy. Betty, is it okay if Shufus comes inside?"

"So long as he won't pee on the carpet or fight with Tuffy, I guess so. Be careful, though. He might bite."

"It's alright, Tuffy. Shufus doesn't want to fight you or hurt your people. And Shufus, be nice. We're guests here," Samantha said. The belligerent little dachshund stopped growling. He sat back on his haunches and cocked his head at an angle, clearly puzzled at the new human child who could talk to him and have him understand.

She and Shufus entered the small home. Samantha immediately caught the smell of animal waste. It was just as Betty had said. Tuffy had been going inside the house. She went over to Tuffy and bent down to rub his ears. "There, doesn't that feel good?"

Tuffy closed his eyes for a moment then opened them in order to sniff noses with Shufus, who had joined her. The two dogs exchanged doggie greetings in the manner of strangers meeting of the first time but there was no animus, not with Samantha soothing Tuffy's resentment of strangers entering his home.

Betty joined them and soon all four were seated on the floor playing. In a moment Betty asked, "Can you really stop him from doing his business inside the house? He's got a big back yard but Dad doesn't want him to go out there unless he's on a leash and he doesn't like to do anything when he's restrained."

"I'll try," Samantha said. "Come on, Tuffy, let's go outside. But you have to promise not to run away. Okay?"

"Erf. Woof." Tuffy made other doggie noises of agreement and promised to stay. Samantha clearly understood him, just as Tuffy had comprehended what she said to him.

"We can go outside now. He won't run away."

"Are you sure?" Betty asked doubtfully.

"Uh huh. Come on. Come, Shufus. Come, Tuffy."

In the back yard she talked to Tuffy and led him to a far corner of the yard. "Now, Tuffy, this is where you should go. Shufus, show him so I'll be sure he understands."

Obediently, Shufus cocked his leg and urinated a small amount.

"See, Tuffy? If you go here, the big human and your little human won't be mad at you. You're not supposed to go in the house."

She and Betty stayed outside for a bit longer then went back in. The two dogs played together while they did some homework, then Samantha looked at her watch.

"I have to go home now but let's take Tuffy outside one more time to make sure."

The little dog followed the girls and Shufus happily. It was nice to be understood and to be able to make a human understand him. He used the backyard as a potty again.

"Good dog, Tuffy. Now when you need to go, you bark or scratch at the door so the humans will know you have to go outside. And don't run away any more. Okay?"

"Woof!" Tuffy barked. Sammie heard it as
Yes. Be good dog.

Tuffy asked if Samantha and Shufus would come again.

"We'll come back, Tuffy. Now you be a good dog."

"Woof!"
Be good.

***

Samantha and her classmates were surprised the next day. Just before the last class was dismissed the teacher, Ms. Smithers, made an announcement. "Class, every year the school schedules two field trips in order to help you learn about the city of Lufkin and some of its facilities. The Saturday after this coming weekend we would like to take you to the zoo." She paused and smiled as a buzz of excitement overcame the students, causing them to momentarily forget the no talking without permission, then she continued. "However, we will need some adults for chaperones to make sure you stay together and help me in other ways while we're there. Now I'm going to hand out permission slips for you to take home. It has the date and time of the trip listed. Your parents must sign them or you won't be able to go. There is also a space on the permission slip for parents to volunteer to help chaperone you. All they have to do is call the number listed and if they agree, then they should be here at the specified time on the slip."

The last bell rang and the students filed past Ms. Smithers and were handed their permission slips. Samantha was excited. She read a lot about animals and wanted to see some of the more exotic ones up close.

When she got home she had dinner, then quickly finished her homework in time to stay up and watch television with her parents. After living in Alaska they liked programs about animals as much as Samantha did. The program reminded her about the trip to the zoo. She had completely forgotten!

"Dad, Mom, guess what? Our class is going to the zoo!" she said.

"Oh? When?" Elaine replied, not very enthusiastically.

"The Saturday after the coming weekend at ten o'clock, but you have to give permission first." She looked hopefully at her parents.

Elaine started to say something then stopped and reconsidered, but finally decided she needed to speak. "Ron, do you think that's a good idea?"

Ronald was reading the permission slip. "Elaine, honey, it says here that they need some parents to chaperone the class. I'll be off work and could volunteer. Sammie certainly can't get into trouble if I'm with her."

"Well... "

"Oh, please, Mom. I'd really love to go. I've read about zoos on the internet. They have lots and lots of animals from all over the world."

"Alright," Elaine said hesitantly, "but promise me you won't try to talk to the animals while you're there."

"If I do, I won't when anyone else is nearby, Mom. I promise."

Elaine rolled her eyes. "Better if you don't talk to them at all."

"I'll watch her, honey. Besides, there's usually no way she could speak to the animals anyway, without shouting. Remember, they're confined."

Something about the planned expedition raised Elaine Douglas' hackles but she said no more about it. After all, Samantha had been really good since they moved from Alaska and the German Shepherd, Shufus, was a wonderful dog, as dogs went. He was so well behaved it was almost uncanny but she didn't let herself think about why. She still didn't want her daughter to be different from other young girls, not after the trouble in Alaska. It made her cautious. She just wished there was a way to get that fixation about being able to talk to animals out of her mind. She had thought once or twice about seeking psychiatric help for her but after some consideration, decided that wasn't a good idea. If she did consult a mental health expert and it got out, Samantha would really be thought strange then. About all she could do was wait and hope her delusion would go away on its own once she reached puberty and began thinking of boys like all young girls do. It wouldn't be long now, she knew.

Besides being allowed to participate in the class trip to the zoo, Samantha also received permission to go by Betty's house each day after school for just a few minutes to say hello to the dog she was trying to help. Each day she faithfully told her Mother about her progress in amending Tuffy's behavior. On Friday, she stayed a few minutes extra just to reinforce Tuffy's improvement until she could come and stay longer.

Samantha was up early Saturday morning and began doing her chores; cleaning her room, bringing the laundry to the washroom, sweeping out the garage and then helping her mother in the kitchen, preparing a meal that would do for both Saturday and Sunday as was their usual practice. Elaine liked to have one day free from cooking.

Samantha had just finished flowering the roast that would be the mainstay of the weekend dinners. She placed it in the big skillet to brown before going into the oven, then the land phone rang. Elaine picked up the kitchen extension.

Samantha couldn't help but overhear her Mother's side of the conversation and quickly gathered that it had something to do with Betty's Dachshund, Tuffy.
On no!
She thought. Surely he hasn't run off again after promising not to. She practically held her breath as she heard her Mother say, "Well, Sammie has always had a way with animals. I'm glad she was able to help. Yes, certainly she can come over and stay for a while today. No, you needn't bother. Sammie told me you live on Rucker Road. She can walk and Shufus will go with her so no one will dare bother her." She was silent for a moment then said, "You're welcome," and hung up.

"Come here, Sammie," she said.

"Is something wrong?" Samantha asked fearfully. It hadn't
sounded
like it.

"No, of course not. I just wanted to give you a hug for being so good." She held out her arms and Samantha gratefully hugged her Mother.

"That was Mr. Orleans, as you probably guessed. He called to thank us for letting you help on their problem with Betty's dog. Obviously you did well, but the most important thing is that you didn't try to convince him you could talk to animals."

"I told you I wouldn't say that, Mom, even if it is true. I can."

"Sure," Elaine said, still unbelieving but also grateful that her only child was learning not to advertise her non-existent talent. What she thought was non-existent, but still... Sammie certainly had a way with animals, no doubt about that! Maybe... no, it couldn't be. No one could do that. Animals weren't even smart enough to talk! "Anyway, you can go over to Betty's house this afternoon for a couple of hours if you want to. You've helped enough for today. Girls should have time for fun, too."

Samantha hugged her Mother again. "Thanks, Mom." She was glad her parents were so good to her, unlike some of the kids who told of mothers and fathers who were very strict with them and sometimes even beat them when they did something wrong, even just a little something.

Soon she was on her way to visit Betty, Shufus by her side. He was always happy to go for a walk and never strayed, even when other dogs tried to entice him away.

"Hi, Sammie. Hi Shufus. Come on in."

"Hi Betty, hello, Tuffy. Have you been a good dog?"

"Woof! Arf!"

"He says he's been good," Samantha said.

"Is that what he said in dog talk?" a deep voice said and then Mr. Orleans appeared from another room.

"Daddy, this is Sammie. And that's her dog, Shufus."

"We're glad to meet you, Mr. Orleans. Shufus, go shake hands with Mr. Orleans."

Obediently Shufus ambled over and offered a front paw to the man, who took it with a bit of apprehension. Shufus was growing into a fine big German Shepherd.

"He doesn't bite does he?" Mr. Orleans asked, looking at Shufus.

"Oh, no! He would never do anything like that!"

"I didn't think Tuffy would, either but he tried once or twice."

Samantha thought a moment, then said. "Mr. Orleans, you don't have to hit a dog to make them mind you. Just speaking to them in a stern voice is enough. They'll usually get the idea, although sometimes it takes several incidents before they understand. But dogs naturally
want
to be good for their people. They just don't always understand how."

"I see," Mr. Orleans said. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Anyway, Tuffy has certainly been a good dog all week."

Tuffy wagged his tail at the mention of his name and the phrase "good dog" coming from his big person.

Samantha grinned. "You said the right thing. Didn't he, Tuffy?"

"Woof!"
Yes!

Mr. Orleans laughed. He reached down to tickle behind Tuffy's ears for a moment then left the girls to play.

This problem seems to be solved
, Samantha thought.
I just wish they were all that easy
.

For most of the time during her visit with Betty and Tuffy she and Betty stayed in the back yard, playing fetch with Shufus and Tuffy, who learned the game quickly. Samantha loved listening to their excited barking. To anyone else it was only a bark but to her the meaning came through loud and clear.
Throw again! Throw again!
The dogs were pretending the squeaky toys were rabbits and their innocently vicious thoughts seemed perfectly natural to her. Dogs had a hunting ancestry in their genes and chasing thrown toys gave them a chance to express it when no real rabbits or other prey were available.

Mr. Orleans joined them for a few minutes and Samantha held Shufus back while the man threw the squeaky toy for Tuffy. "I've never seen anyone who can teach dogs so quickly," he said. "Your mother is right. You do have a way with animals. Have you thought about becoming a veterinarian when you grow up?"

"A vet... a veterinarian? Isn't that an animal doctor?"

"Right. You're so good with dogs and your Mother said you have a way with animals. It would be a perfect profession for you when you're grown."