A dog with infinite patience is a treasure.
Children are impressionable and are firm advocates of the Monkey-See-Monkey-Do philosophy of life. As parents, we’re aware of these facts, but there are still moments when we’re taken by surprise.
My little Phoebe has been my frequent sidekick on trips to the vet with our dog Gretzky. The most recent one, however, had quite an impact on her curiosity and penchant for reenactment. I was folding laundry last week in the master bedroom when my daughter walked in and handed me a small hairbrush she has had since infancy.
“Mommy, can you please wash this hairbrush? It stinks.”
I sized up the manner in which she held the thing—pinching the portion that housed the bristles between her thumb and forefinger with one hand, pinching her nose shut with the other.
“Why does it stink?” I asked.
“Because it was in Gretzky’s butt.”
Phoebe offered this explanation without fanfare, and without the laughter that would accompany such an outrageous statement if it were meant as a joke. I eyed the hairbrush suspiciously. The evidence I was hoping not to find was streaked on the otherwise white handle—only a smear of light brown, but enough to let inquiring minds know where it had been. The dog came into view of the bedroom’s doorframe. He looked okay, but he was sporting those “Help Me” eyes I have seen many times since my daughter’s birth four years ago.
“Why was the hairbrush in Gretzky’s butt?” I asked, still a little fazed that I had occasion to utter the words.
“Because I was pretending to take his temperature like the vet did,” Phoebe answered in a tone that implied I should have known this already.
“Phoebe, only the vet is allowed to take Gretzky’s temperature. Do you understand? I know you wanted to pretend you were helping Gretzky, but you are not allowed to put anything in the dog’s butt. Nothing goes in Gretzky’s butt. Nothing,” I still could not believe the necessity of the conversation.
Phoebe, looking visibly disappointed, turned on her heel and went to sulk in her room.
And I went to the bathroom with the hairbrush. And some bleach.
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