A few weeks ago, during the glorious weather that visited Ireland, I was out the back of my garden sunning myself. You know, working from. I notice a bird flying low that flies straight into one of my upstairs windows before falling to the ground with a thud.
“What was that?” Tina asked. Tina and her fiancé are currently visiting my house, like forever, while their own house is being completed. They both have visual impairments.
“A bird crashed into the window. Ah, no, it’s after walking into the kitchen. We’ll never get it out.”
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Paris coming to the rescue. Paris is a Labrador, and an occasional guide dog when it suits her.
Now, I imagine its honed instincts, which evolved over millennia, turning it into a cold, ruthless killing machine.
Paris went into the kitchen and then came straight back out. There was no sign of any blood. It put its toy bird in its mouth and brought it into the kitchen before exiting again.
“Ah, it brought a friend for the bird,” Tina gushed.
That dog is such a disappointment.
“Okay, Tina, you go in next. Get rid of the bird.”
“Me, shur I can’t see it. You’re the man.”
“Well, I never,” I replied with indignation, “I believe in equality and women in leadership. This is your time to shine.”
There is a bit of back and forth before I convince her to go in. Bad news, I have to follow.
We are all in the kitchen, except for Paris, who is resting. The bird is standing in my bowl of bananas on the counter.
The bird flaps its wings and briefly flies. Tina screeches. She’s worried about it flying into her face. Well, at least it wouldn’t be mine.
“Be brave, Tina, take the sweeping brush and get it to go out.”
The bird flaps again, and Tina threatens to abandon me.
It does another short flight and lands near the back door.
“Okay, Tina, stick out the broom. It’s on the floor.”
She moves towards the bird, and it walks outside before flying away.
I was so brave.
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