Memory #

When I was about 20 or so, my dad adopted a retired racing greyhound....except he didn't tell me. I walked into his house without knowing about this dog when I heard what I thought to be a small angry horse. I was met by this large brindle greyhound who was growling and showing his teeth. I immediately thought " He is going to eat me". The dog got right to me and stopped, sniffed me and licked my face. About the time, my dad came around the corner and said, "Tut! Leave her alone. She's ok". I looked up at my dad and said," Wouldn't it have been helpful to tell me about that BEFORE I got here?" He laughed that wonderful laugh of his and shook his head. I sat down on the couch and Tut stood there staring at me. My dad said, "Honey, that's Tut's seat." I said, "No, its not. I am the human, he is the dog. I sit where I want." Tut stared at me, then jumped up on me and the couch and laid across my lap. My dad said," I told you that was his seat". Tut and I grew to love one another. He loved me, my cats and my dad. When my eldest cat passed away  when I was 20 (my dad was caring for her), Tut wrapped his body around her to keep her body warm. My dad said that when he came down the stairs that morning and he saw that, he knew something was wrong. He said he went to touch the cat and Tut wouldn't let him near her at first. My dad told me how Tut mourned her death more than the other animals. I thought that dog was great and my dad loved him so much.