Pudgie
I'll never forget Pudgie, our family dog, a white Spitz with his tail curled over his back. Pudgie loved the whole family and would protect us all in danger. But Pudgie worshipped me. I guess because I would spend a lot of time with him teaching him many tricks since Cookie and I acquired him from a young white couple when he was six weeks old.
I got off the bus at Delmar and Vanderventer and headed for our house a few doors down the street. Pudgie was on the front lawn looking in my direction. I was dressed in full Air Force uniform with an overcoat. Pudgie leaped up, hesitated, then yelped as he ran towards me. I dropped my duffle bag as Pudgie jumped into my arms, whining, trying to bury his head in my chest, urinating from excitement in spurts all over my uniform. I have never before or since received such a wonderful welcome from man, woman, or animal.
Bubba was home for the holidays as were many of our friends from high school. Herman Peoples was a paratrooper, Booker Thomas was with the 24th infantry, and so was Wellman Williams.
Christmas was alright, but not the same without mama. Saying goodbye to the family was tearful, but saying goodbye to Pudgie was painful. I would talk to him like I talk to humans, and he understood. I told him that it would be a long time before I would return and that he should give his love to another.
We met sergeant at the bus terminal and headed back to Texas. After completion of A&E school, I was selected to attend B-36 long-range heavy bomber school, the first intercontinental bomber and the largest aircraft in the world in 1951.
I first met Airman Charles (Chuck) Whittle Jr. of Brooklyn, New York, at B-36 school. Chuck and I were to become as close as brothers. Chuck and I are friends even today.
Upon graduation from B-36 school, I was shipped to Fort Dix in New Jersey for processing for overseas duty in Europe. It was while at Fort Dix that I was rushed to the hospital for an appendectomy. The family had moved to Detroit during this time and I was given a two-week convalescent leave. Cookie was having the same problem with our stepmother. Knowing that he liked sweets, I told him that Air Force chefs made the best pancakes I had ever tasted, maybe he should think about joining the service and he could finish his schooling there.
Wilbert and I would spend a lot of time canoeing at Belle Isle, fishing and talking, mostly about the Air Force. I had been promoted to corporal by this time and loved my duties and fellow airmen.
Pudgie was left behind in St. Louis with the people who were buying our house. I was informed that Pudgie was in a fight with his natural enemy, Dan, a brute of a black and tan coonhound owned by our neighbor Rev. Felix Sheppard, and he lost his will to live and died. Once again, I said goodbye to the family and headed back to base.
I got off the bus at Delmar and Vanderventer and headed for our house a few doors down the street. Pudgie was on the front lawn looking in my direction. I was dressed in full Air Force uniform with an overcoat. Pudgie leaped up, hesitated, then yelped as he ran towards me. I dropped my duffle bag as Pudgie jumped into my arms, whining, trying to bury his head in my chest, urinating from excitement in spurts all over my uniform. I have never before or since received such a wonderful welcome from man, woman, or animal.
Bubba was home for the holidays as were many of our friends from high school. Herman Peoples was a paratrooper, Booker Thomas was with the 24th infantry, and so was Wellman Williams.
Christmas was alright, but not the same without mama. Saying goodbye to the family was tearful, but saying goodbye to Pudgie was painful. I would talk to him like I talk to humans, and he understood. I told him that it would be a long time before I would return and that he should give his love to another.
We met sergeant at the bus terminal and headed back to Texas. After completion of A&E school, I was selected to attend B-36 long-range heavy bomber school, the first intercontinental bomber and the largest aircraft in the world in 1951.
I first met Airman Charles (Chuck) Whittle Jr. of Brooklyn, New York, at B-36 school. Chuck and I were to become as close as brothers. Chuck and I are friends even today.
Upon graduation from B-36 school, I was shipped to Fort Dix in New Jersey for processing for overseas duty in Europe. It was while at Fort Dix that I was rushed to the hospital for an appendectomy. The family had moved to Detroit during this time and I was given a two-week convalescent leave. Cookie was having the same problem with our stepmother. Knowing that he liked sweets, I told him that Air Force chefs made the best pancakes I had ever tasted, maybe he should think about joining the service and he could finish his schooling there.
Wilbert and I would spend a lot of time canoeing at Belle Isle, fishing and talking, mostly about the Air Force. I had been promoted to corporal by this time and loved my duties and fellow airmen.
Pudgie was left behind in St. Louis with the people who were buying our house. I was informed that Pudgie was in a fight with his natural enemy, Dan, a brute of a black and tan coonhound owned by our neighbor Rev. Felix Sheppard, and he lost his will to live and died. Once again, I said goodbye to the family and headed back to base.
posted by bugbytelove | 8:52 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home