Please pay attention, dear reader. The characters in this story can get confusing to anyone who was not actually there.
A very dear friend of mine, named Bertha, also lived at the lake and also loved animals; had an odd habit. She loved to give her pets odd names. She had one black lab she called Turn Around. Basically, because it was her grand daughter's idea on account of the fact every time you turned around the dog was there. She followed Bertha every where.
If she got out it got interesting. Bertha would cup her hand over her mouth and yell, "Turn Around." Every jogger, walker, or person in their yard would... turn around. It got crazy when everyone tried to help her find Turn Around. Everyone would be yelling, "Turn Around". Cars driving through the neighborhood would, start turning around. Anyway, that is not the story here, just a side note.
Turn Around was expecting puppies when she arrived as a stray. She had her puppies but none survived. They were all still born. It broke Bertha's heart. She was beside herself because Turn Around cried for her babies. Her milk sacks were bulging. I suggested she schedule a trip to the vet. I knew the vet had stuff to help with the hormones and the over production of milk. She could also schedule the spaying, (attitude adjustment), that would be necessary.
Bertha loved to sleep with all her windows open. She had screens on all but the one where her window air conditioner was. That particular window opened above the ac unit. You guess it, a new arrival. A mother raccoon with two babies moved into Bertha's kitchen and setup housekeeping in Bertha's bread box during the night. When Bertha discovered her guests she noticed the mother had a broken leg and was having some mobility issues. Bertha had a very soothing voice and it seemed to help the little mother stay calm.
Bertha was not sure what to feed this little mother. Bertha's grand daughter once again helped her name her new guest. She kept saying "What If" she ate this or that? Bertha had some peanut butter, some peanuts, grapes, some almonds, some pecans, and some canned tuna. She setup a tray with a bit of each one on it and offered it to What If. What If, said thank you by eating all of it. It was fascinating to watch. Bertha did know enough to offer two bowls of water. One was to drink from the other for food washing. Each bite was carefully washed before it was popped into her mouth. Bertha worked with What If for a while until she could touch her. She knew she was going to have to take her to the vet to fix the broken leg. It was a few days before Turn Around's appointment so she decided rather than change anything she would just take What If in and leave Turn Around there at home. She got the cat carrier out and opened the door. She put the blanket that What If had been laying on into the carrier and left the door open.
What was she going to do with the baby raccoons? While Bertha was getting dressed What If and Turn Around worked it out. When Bertha came back into the kitchen there was Turn Around nursing the baby raccoons. Turn Around had even gone into the cat carrier by herself and was waiting for Bertha to close the door. Bertha almost started to cry. She said she knew the dear heavenly father had something to do with this one.
What If got her little leg fixed along with a rabies shot. Bertha had to leave her at the vets for 48 hours. While she was gone Turn Around took over motherly duties. She came home with Bertha after two days at the vets. She and Turn Around traded off each day on baby sitting chores.
Turn Around's milk eventually dried up but she never had to take medication to reduce production and was able to get scheduled for her "attitude adjustment". What If eventually moved out one night with her babies. We still see her once in a while. She pops in to say hello to Bertha and sometimes is caught napping with Turn Around.
What If and Turn Around did what was supremely natural to them and Super Natural to us.
Tags: Pets Home Nature Humor
