One of Eight
by Roger McKillop
Genre: Memoir
Swearwords: None.
Description: The early days of a Pomsky pup.
Swearwords: None.
Description: The early days of a Pomsky pup.
It was the evening of 11th of April when I appeared, blind and helpless. I don’t remember much about those first days except the struggle to get to the “milk bar”. I now know that what was in my way was, mostly, my brother Oscar! Those first days were all sleep, suck, wriggle, sleep, “bugger off, Osc!” and suck. I remember the cosy warmth of the bodies of my brothers and sisters and the comfort of our Mother, Lilly’s attentions. She would help me with a nudge of her nose back to her nipples, if I strayed. We were all weak but growing in size and strength. My sister Mimi was the most adventurous of us; in those early days, she could not stay still for long and was always restless.
Gradually our eyes opened and we could see light and shapes. There was the large grey and white of our mum and the wriggly grey and black smaller shapes of each other. My brothers were Oscar, Sammy and Buddy, my sisters were April, Mimi, Princess and Holly and I was Eve. We would wriggle over each other. I became familiar with “close encounters of the mucky kind” with Princess’ bum, Buddy’s willie and of course Oscar’s belly! We started to move about more, get stuck under the rail, I found my way to the wrong side of mum, the bit with no milk! I noticed that Mimi seemed not to be growing as much as the rest of us and she seemed unhappy. April and I would snuggle up to her and try to get her to move. Sometimes we would all forget what we were doing as we moved about and would ride over her. When our weak wobbly legs were able to take our weight, Mimi was still crawling. She’d gone from being our friskiest sister to our weakest. Sammy, always my best pal, he found himself up over the basket, that had been our world and fell over the side, into a vast, milk bar and sibling-free zone. Lilly-mum brought him back in her mouth. It gave the daft bugger a real scare but didn’t prevent him falling over time and time again! Gradually we all moved out into the open and “the man” (whom Mum told us was called Denis) took away the basket. It was scary indeed. We had space but stayed huddled up as close as we could waiting to see who’d be the first to venture “abroad”. One night Mimi lay down in the middle of our room and stopped moving. We nudged and licked her but she was too weak to move. When we awoke, “the man” had taken her away. She never came back. I really missed her.
We played, ran about, fought each other and collapsed in a heap. One of us would snuggle down in the corner beside the door, then we’d all drop, sometimes latterly, in a great pile of Pomskies. I loved my Mum, she was so gentle and attentive to all our needs. I used to try to cuddle into her face and chest. Ok, I admit it, along with April, we’d also try to muscle into her grub as well! As we got more mobile and playful, she started to get irritated with us and moved away to get some Pomsky-Puppy-paws-claws-budding teeth-free space. I got a sharp yelp, growl and a very close look at her, long and bowl-disturbing teeth, when I persisted in trying to nick her food.
We were used to Denis coming into our room to take Mum out for some well-deserved exercise and cleaning out our mess. I was fascinated with Mum’s bodily functions. I’ll admit to having been peed upon, a few times, when I was too close and too slow to get away. I would stare up at her rear end to watch her pooing! Well, everyone should have a hobby. I remember trying it myself, there was I, in the middle of the room, squatting, straining, with the whole pack staring at my bum. I waddled away, trailing poo, a motion that’s become my signature move!
One day Denis came in with two people. They made a great fuss of Mum. We all darted to the back of the room, except for Sammy, who sat, tongue lolling until it dawned on the Muppet that the rest of us had gone. With a doggie version of “Doh”, he turned and ran to join us. Denis bent down and picked me up and gave me to one of them. They must have got a wet hand, cause I’d just peed. I was quite scared but I felt a warm aura of something “nice” I did not really understand but it calmed me. I was carried out, still in this person’s arms, while the other picked up each of my sisters. Finally I was handed over to the other, person. I don’t know what happened but I was content, I just knew, this person would love and protect me. It was happy and safe and cosy feeling. I put my paws round her neck and licked her. I felt her sigh and I knew that this would be my human Mum. I was put back into the play pen with the rest, while they petted everyone in turn. My new Mum picked me up again and after a long, loving cuddle, she returned me to Lilly-mum who sniffed me all over, licked me and knew that I had chosen my new family.
Sammy and I used to muck about all the time. If there was any “no-good” going on, we’d be in the middle of it! I’ve often wondered if Lilly-mum gave everyone lectures on “dos and don’ts” of being a Pomsky? If so, I seem to have missed lessons on “not pinching food off plates”, “listening to instructions to come back” and of course “not picking up and eating rubbish off the ground!” I blame Sammy, with his floppy ear, who led me astray! And if you believe that………….
It was not long after that, Denis took Lilly out for her usual bit of exercise but did not bring her back. I howled in pain of separation from my beloved Mum. Sammy came over and butted me with his head to start a game of “chase me, chase me!” We just got on with it. Sleeping, eating, fighting and lots of other “ings!” We’d all waddle around like perambulating fluff-balls. April, Princess and Buddy were mainly black while the rest of us were various shades of grey. As we grew, we continually changed colours. Holly and I were very similar in colour, sometimes even I did not know if I was me! (Eh? Jeasus! It must be cultural! I’ll chew the sentence again! Nope, I still don’t understand it but never mind!) Our games mostly centred round picking a fight with someone and then running away. We seemed to have just two paces, waddle and sprint. The latter was a problem for those of us who’d not yet mastered the breaking and turning bit. One of my favourite games was “Who owns the car?” April and I were the mechanics-in-chief but not at the same time! “Too many Pomskies spoil the peace!” I then progressed to commanding the heights of our toy house. I would gain the top and repel all potential boarders! Another favourite ploy of mine was to wait, up on my castle, until all the others had settled down by the door. I’d drop down, sprint, in a four paws drift, round the house, to pick up speed, jump and bounce off it to land on top in my family, with a doggie cry of “Incoming!”
Our daily routine settled down into sleeping, eating and increasing periods of play. One day Denis took us all out of our room, not to the play pen but outside, there was no roof and it was warm. I was hot, confused and a wee bit scared but I enjoyed it, I think. Not long after that we were all picked up again and gently put in small cages and put into a “thing”. We seemed to spend a long time bumping along. I worked on the theory, “When in doubt, snooze!” Eventually we were placed in another “thing” but not all of my brothers and sisters were in it. I do not know where they went and I missed them! We bumped along again, stopping every so often and everyone, in the rest of my pack, in turn, was taken away somewhere. I was sad but as long as I still had companions I kept calm. Then the last cage was taken, leaving me alone. Oh, how I howled, where was my family, Lilly, Denis, Mimi, everyone I had ever known? We had been safe, warm, loved and well cared for in our room and I pined to return to the security of the only home I’d ever known.
The bumping stopped and I was taken out of my cage. I was taken up some stairs into a strange room. I didn’t know the man who carried me in and I was trembling. When I went into the house a lady took me in her arms. I felt a wave of kindness from her which seemed to settle me and awoke distant memories. She put me down, I lay on the floor and looked round. They let me explore and get used to my new surroundings and then she gave me my first ever slice of toast! This was the very thing I’d practiced for in our old room by commandeered chews, doll’s legs and occasionally Sammy! I held it in my front paws and munched, yummed and lip smacked my way through it. I wasn’t sure who she was but she surely knew that the way to this Pomsky’s heart was through her gob!! I looked up from the crumbs and suddenly recognition struck me. I was not, after all, among strangers. There, just over there, was my human Mum. I could sense her uncertainty restraining her longing to hold me. I got up and walked over to her and lay down at her feet. It was like having Lilly-mum back, my heart swelled with joy. She picked me up and held me to her, our need for each other filled us with deep contentment and a wonderful sense of “Belonging!” This was the start of us getting to know each other and figuring out who’s the boss. A question, by the way, we still have not, quite, resolved but I let her think she is! We are so glad she allowed me to choose her!
Gradually our eyes opened and we could see light and shapes. There was the large grey and white of our mum and the wriggly grey and black smaller shapes of each other. My brothers were Oscar, Sammy and Buddy, my sisters were April, Mimi, Princess and Holly and I was Eve. We would wriggle over each other. I became familiar with “close encounters of the mucky kind” with Princess’ bum, Buddy’s willie and of course Oscar’s belly! We started to move about more, get stuck under the rail, I found my way to the wrong side of mum, the bit with no milk! I noticed that Mimi seemed not to be growing as much as the rest of us and she seemed unhappy. April and I would snuggle up to her and try to get her to move. Sometimes we would all forget what we were doing as we moved about and would ride over her. When our weak wobbly legs were able to take our weight, Mimi was still crawling. She’d gone from being our friskiest sister to our weakest. Sammy, always my best pal, he found himself up over the basket, that had been our world and fell over the side, into a vast, milk bar and sibling-free zone. Lilly-mum brought him back in her mouth. It gave the daft bugger a real scare but didn’t prevent him falling over time and time again! Gradually we all moved out into the open and “the man” (whom Mum told us was called Denis) took away the basket. It was scary indeed. We had space but stayed huddled up as close as we could waiting to see who’d be the first to venture “abroad”. One night Mimi lay down in the middle of our room and stopped moving. We nudged and licked her but she was too weak to move. When we awoke, “the man” had taken her away. She never came back. I really missed her.
We played, ran about, fought each other and collapsed in a heap. One of us would snuggle down in the corner beside the door, then we’d all drop, sometimes latterly, in a great pile of Pomskies. I loved my Mum, she was so gentle and attentive to all our needs. I used to try to cuddle into her face and chest. Ok, I admit it, along with April, we’d also try to muscle into her grub as well! As we got more mobile and playful, she started to get irritated with us and moved away to get some Pomsky-Puppy-paws-claws-budding teeth-free space. I got a sharp yelp, growl and a very close look at her, long and bowl-disturbing teeth, when I persisted in trying to nick her food.
We were used to Denis coming into our room to take Mum out for some well-deserved exercise and cleaning out our mess. I was fascinated with Mum’s bodily functions. I’ll admit to having been peed upon, a few times, when I was too close and too slow to get away. I would stare up at her rear end to watch her pooing! Well, everyone should have a hobby. I remember trying it myself, there was I, in the middle of the room, squatting, straining, with the whole pack staring at my bum. I waddled away, trailing poo, a motion that’s become my signature move!
One day Denis came in with two people. They made a great fuss of Mum. We all darted to the back of the room, except for Sammy, who sat, tongue lolling until it dawned on the Muppet that the rest of us had gone. With a doggie version of “Doh”, he turned and ran to join us. Denis bent down and picked me up and gave me to one of them. They must have got a wet hand, cause I’d just peed. I was quite scared but I felt a warm aura of something “nice” I did not really understand but it calmed me. I was carried out, still in this person’s arms, while the other picked up each of my sisters. Finally I was handed over to the other, person. I don’t know what happened but I was content, I just knew, this person would love and protect me. It was happy and safe and cosy feeling. I put my paws round her neck and licked her. I felt her sigh and I knew that this would be my human Mum. I was put back into the play pen with the rest, while they petted everyone in turn. My new Mum picked me up again and after a long, loving cuddle, she returned me to Lilly-mum who sniffed me all over, licked me and knew that I had chosen my new family.
Sammy and I used to muck about all the time. If there was any “no-good” going on, we’d be in the middle of it! I’ve often wondered if Lilly-mum gave everyone lectures on “dos and don’ts” of being a Pomsky? If so, I seem to have missed lessons on “not pinching food off plates”, “listening to instructions to come back” and of course “not picking up and eating rubbish off the ground!” I blame Sammy, with his floppy ear, who led me astray! And if you believe that………….
It was not long after that, Denis took Lilly out for her usual bit of exercise but did not bring her back. I howled in pain of separation from my beloved Mum. Sammy came over and butted me with his head to start a game of “chase me, chase me!” We just got on with it. Sleeping, eating, fighting and lots of other “ings!” We’d all waddle around like perambulating fluff-balls. April, Princess and Buddy were mainly black while the rest of us were various shades of grey. As we grew, we continually changed colours. Holly and I were very similar in colour, sometimes even I did not know if I was me! (Eh? Jeasus! It must be cultural! I’ll chew the sentence again! Nope, I still don’t understand it but never mind!) Our games mostly centred round picking a fight with someone and then running away. We seemed to have just two paces, waddle and sprint. The latter was a problem for those of us who’d not yet mastered the breaking and turning bit. One of my favourite games was “Who owns the car?” April and I were the mechanics-in-chief but not at the same time! “Too many Pomskies spoil the peace!” I then progressed to commanding the heights of our toy house. I would gain the top and repel all potential boarders! Another favourite ploy of mine was to wait, up on my castle, until all the others had settled down by the door. I’d drop down, sprint, in a four paws drift, round the house, to pick up speed, jump and bounce off it to land on top in my family, with a doggie cry of “Incoming!”
Our daily routine settled down into sleeping, eating and increasing periods of play. One day Denis took us all out of our room, not to the play pen but outside, there was no roof and it was warm. I was hot, confused and a wee bit scared but I enjoyed it, I think. Not long after that we were all picked up again and gently put in small cages and put into a “thing”. We seemed to spend a long time bumping along. I worked on the theory, “When in doubt, snooze!” Eventually we were placed in another “thing” but not all of my brothers and sisters were in it. I do not know where they went and I missed them! We bumped along again, stopping every so often and everyone, in the rest of my pack, in turn, was taken away somewhere. I was sad but as long as I still had companions I kept calm. Then the last cage was taken, leaving me alone. Oh, how I howled, where was my family, Lilly, Denis, Mimi, everyone I had ever known? We had been safe, warm, loved and well cared for in our room and I pined to return to the security of the only home I’d ever known.
The bumping stopped and I was taken out of my cage. I was taken up some stairs into a strange room. I didn’t know the man who carried me in and I was trembling. When I went into the house a lady took me in her arms. I felt a wave of kindness from her which seemed to settle me and awoke distant memories. She put me down, I lay on the floor and looked round. They let me explore and get used to my new surroundings and then she gave me my first ever slice of toast! This was the very thing I’d practiced for in our old room by commandeered chews, doll’s legs and occasionally Sammy! I held it in my front paws and munched, yummed and lip smacked my way through it. I wasn’t sure who she was but she surely knew that the way to this Pomsky’s heart was through her gob!! I looked up from the crumbs and suddenly recognition struck me. I was not, after all, among strangers. There, just over there, was my human Mum. I could sense her uncertainty restraining her longing to hold me. I got up and walked over to her and lay down at her feet. It was like having Lilly-mum back, my heart swelled with joy. She picked me up and held me to her, our need for each other filled us with deep contentment and a wonderful sense of “Belonging!” This was the start of us getting to know each other and figuring out who’s the boss. A question, by the way, we still have not, quite, resolved but I let her think she is! We are so glad she allowed me to choose her!
About the Author
Edinburgh-born Roger McKillop is a retired Sports Studies lecturer. He has been writing poetry in Scots for many years and has had his work published in The Scots Magazine. His pen name is Roger Ceann Maol Beag, which means Wee Roger with the Bald Head!