Another dreary day not really Assisted by the seasons reversion to winter. Yep, it’s not called a shoulder Season for nothing. After a brief respite from the clinging cold, the Elements seemed to agree on a peaceful transition to that which makes Cape Town top of the tourist pops; benign summer. (ED: Try early spring, Medici rather than that shoulder bullshit) Even the traffic Reverted to almost a halt as the bipedals vacated their homes for the Beaches and parks, en mass. The northern park too Saw a rapid increase in the old crowd as everyone came out to play and a general air of bonhomie was palpably evident in the multiple back slapping and greetings among the bipeds. We just immersed ourselves in Bum-sniffing and restorative camaraderie. It appears that you have changed your Medication I heard Jackson remark to Ignition. How very Astute of you and your nose to notice, replied Ignition and in response to multiple raised eyebrows, explained, it’s a long story but let’s just say it goes with the Turf. You mean aging, enquired Jackson?, causing a ripple of disquiet amongst those Hanging about. (Ed: what do you expect J is a labradoodle a very recent invention of those trying to expunge the classification pedigree-police amongst your quadrupeds) Well that too but also it goes with the Job as a firefighter: we Dalmatians need to be in peak health at all times and this is one way to go about it. We all turned toward the Ensuing conversation with vacant thought bubbles floating out of our ears mouths and armpits.
Rosetta of course, broke the silence by remarking loudly, no need for that shit when there is real Bird to be had, in abundance at this your very own park. We all reeled about to see her in the lower branches above us. Large splotches of free samples were plummeting down amongst us as she slyly continued to Lure us in. In this her latest marketing drive she was now presumably purveying it as a Medicine and no longer just a pick-me-up for the bored wealthy upper classes in the North. We all looked at each Other and sure enough the regular users and abusers surged Forward as their drug of choice descended like manna from you know where. Jackson was the first there, naturally betraying his lower origins only recently amalgamated into into a novel breed. But hold-on, said the venerable Shamus an Irish Wolfhound with impeccable Heredity: nay undisputed preeminence in the world of artificial Nobility. (Ed:He was almost royalty actually) Don’t be so judgemental, we all had to start somewhere he mouthed in his southern silky smooth, nay mellifluous, Irish brogue*. Don’t be too condemnatory and just Remember this classism which you so called, thoroughs have all adopted, has nothing to do with worth: it’s just pure bigotry inherited from your Domesticated minders and now Passed on to you. Hurrah exclaimed Red Deb, I have been telling them that for Long ages but since you have the bearing not only of size but lineage too, perhaps they will now Listen.
Meantime , Mike Tiresome sidled up to Ignition and said, I as an athlete need to know what it is you are taking, Medicinally. Oh sure, replied Ignition knowing how to deflect rancour by lying, just half an aspirin every morning. And thats it, said an incredulous Mike? Yep: keeps the blood flowing and Appears to make me the talk of the park as well, he said Wryly. Having avoided confrontation like all well-breds do, he tottered off on his way back to the firehouse. I watched this tradition of localised typically Northern park behaviour reemerging in the new season of whatever it was and then scurried off back to my beloved who had materialised just last night from interminable days and weeks Abroad. I bayed and shouted and hooted and yodelled my joy at her appearance. The sky started clearing and I just could not wait to get home and just be with her. On lap, under duvet or alongside in the car as we go places in harmony together again. In this the Forthcoming summer of our contentment**
Summer winter shoulder or spring
its to the park our attitudes we bring
the same old blah
so very bourgeois
but glory hallelujah she is home and I sing
* Yes, shoes too
** Apologies to Bill and the Thomas Chatterton Williams, a hero of Red Debs who with this unlikeliest of names wrote a blah with the subtext …….the demise of discourse…Chatterton, nogal.