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My childhood dog |
- I am a Dragon baby, born in the Chinese Horoscope Dragon year, i.e. if Im not senile, 1976
- The 70s is the decade of nation-building for Singapore
- This translates into massive fervent job-hunting for all able-bodied people like my father who was then in his late 20s
- Everything is lacking jobs, money, food, water, medicine, houses, roads
- Life, on the technical side, is what we would call "a dogs life"
- Back home, in my kampong single-storey hand-made house with a dark attar that Im always afraid of (as a boy of course)
- Im growing up as a plump baby boy in a big family lets go through:
- My father, mother
- My uncle (fathers 2nd elder brother), my auntie (his wife), my small aunt (fathers 2nd junior sister)
- My grandmother
- My dog it is a she, fun-loving, ever ready to cuddle with me I still can feel her beside me sometimes
- If Im not wrong (Im no bigger than a month then), my family make it a big event during my first month birthday Chinese view the first month of birth as the threshold for healthy infant
- There was this photo taken of me lying belly-down on the family table out on the lawn in front of our house this is special, the photo is coloured (in those days, color photos are hard to come by & definitely not cheap, especially to us - & my family just make it for me)
- On the back of that photo are the Chinese words of the date & my age in lunar terms written by my father in his best writings I guess (he must practiced it a few times) they look to me to be perfect
- Those were, U can say, the days
- Frankly, I truly believe that Im the luckiest & best cared for baby in the world I have the best father, the best mother, the best grandmother, the best relatives, the best bed, the best house playground
- The world is for me & Im for the world
everywhere is discovery
mimosa on the ground
birds in the day
fireflies at night
house lizards from the ceiling (mother always screamed when any one comes near or worse drop on her)
the catfights/dogfights at night
the monthly opera in front of my house (Chinese believe the 1st: moonless & 15th: full moon of every lunar month are periods of ghosts & gods the realms other than humanity)
the temple (the shrine on top of the small hill in front of my house where celebrations were held together with the opera
in those days, I witness many things
the crowded gathering of worshippers
the dense cover of burning joss
the fortune telling with sacred sticks
the real big snakes in the cage)
my own swordplays (which I used to learn & aptly display in front of my relatives mind you, I have my own super-sword which I truly believe to be the one for me & Im for it)
my ferocious milk-drinking/bed-urinating
my jumping on the bed (till a main beam cracked Im still lighter than dumb-bell then maybe its not me, right)
the rambutans (I learnt to pick from the ground of course, there were plenty of them)
the papayas (which my grandmother sold together with the other fruits, eggs, fish & poultry)
the jackfruits (I seldom go for them they dont seem to attract my attention & their place is always damp, dark, itchy & make me feel repelled)
the durians (Im specifically trained to follow only the walking paths that are safe from the durians that drop off from 20-30m high up my grandmother had been struck by a dropping durian once & stayed in hospital for over a week mind you the height & the spike are not tolerable to the weak)
the pond (which I was told to keep clear off, so I end up not able to swim, unlike my father who is an underwater submarine & the creatures on the pond surface are truly fun)
the well (where we get our drinking & bathing water
I always wonder why the well always has water no matter how much we take from it
I know now it is due to rain & groundwater table the well water marks the groundwater level
taking water from the well always fascinates me lowering the pail into the well with a rope & whipping it in a way that the pail just scoops up water from the well is my first lesson in manual art
I remember once I urinated not at the toilet which is beside the well, but right into the well - & got severely punished for it, so much so that I never dare to do it ever again)
the slope in front of the house (where my cousins who are born in the subsequent two years & I used to compete who can shoot urine the furthest
& fertilize the furthest plants
& of course, we need not cover ourselves, everywhere is dense tropical foliage)
the poultry (where roosters cock out loud, hens clack, the place stinks with urine & faeces
the laying home where the hens lay eggs
more than once, I got away with scaring the hens)
& of course, the mosquitoes (all of our beds have mosquito nets)
- Hmm
I seem to be deviating
I remember I live at the kampong for the first four years of my life
so I guess I sort of got adopted by my elder female-dog as a surrogate pup
- She was already settled at the house at the time of my birth
my grandmother reared her & probably other dogs for safety reasons dogs bark at the slightest hint of unfamiliarity
- Her face I cant clearly remember
but she is dark brown thats for sure
whenever she sees me, her tail is always wagging
ferociously wagging
I always like that
that means Im welcome & she loves my company
- She keeps licking me also
standing on her hind legs & leaning towards when I was bigger
she wants to come to my face which she likes a lot
- In fact, she only wags her tail that hard in front of me & my grandmother
I consider myself very privileged
my grandmother took good care of her, just like any other animals & trees on the farm
shes an excellent farmer, housewife & grandmother, the best & I have her as my grandmother
- The female-dog (I never gave her any name
I was not articulate or anything
so I guess we just know each other
by scent, by touch, by breadth, by just sitting & playing together
- She was great at playing
running faster than me
it really helps when Im such an energetic kid remember what they say new kid in the block
- The most memorable & emotional (not crying, but truly totally feeling) moments with her were the sitting & resting times
those would always be with me
no one can take that away from me or her
she knows it from her eyes
it is hard to describe
I have never got that kind of feeling ever since
its like waiting but not waiting
its not relaxing but not stationary
its like playing but not moving
its like caring but not saying
we like to sit at her place just outside my room on the outside of the house facing the entrance
I guess we were simply watching the scenery go by
she always like to lay her legs & chin my lap
& I would sleep on her sometimes
then my mother would carry me back
my mother doesnt like her to be too near me
she thinks the dog is filthy
but I never felt so
what is this feeling I may never truly know again
I would always love her for it
- Shes a tough dog
mind you, in those days, dogfights are serious stuff
not the pup-walk today
dogs live & die in fights to mate
she was pregnant shortly after I moved to my old Marsiling 4-room flat
but I still come back frequently whenever theres a chance
transport was not good & we have walk for half-hour to reach my house
- Eventually she gave birth to pack
my grandmother only pick one - a male dog, to stay behind
the rest she gives away
we dont need that many anyway
- I remember I held my fourth or fifth birthday at my kampong house
there were a lot of people & relatives
but I still chose to play in front of the guests
afraid that I get too dirty & untidy (Im supposed to be the star)
my mother finally pulled me in & chased her away
later on, I figure that my grandmother must have chained her away somewhere, as I cant her at all
not to worry, I got lots of children to play with
- Since I moved, I only get to see her intermittently
but a dog can only live for so long
not forever
it seems everything is destined
- One day, in my sixth year, my mother told me she has died
of course, I dont get her
I dont know what is death
so I just nod my head & forget it
she must have been sleeping for all I know
until then & even later until my manhood do I not realize the emotional impact that death has on people
- My mother later brought me to the my house (I think it should be some time later)
I went to our favourite place & she was not there
only her son, the young male bull dog, is there
I was puzzled
in the past, she would be the first to pounce on me
now I feel left behind
something is not right
I immediately went to ask my mother & my grandmother
without a word, they took me down into the bayao, along the safe walking path to the garbage pond where my grandmother used to throw dead matter to decay & become fertilizer for the plants
I cant remember exactly what they said to me
its something like she is down there at the bottom
but I just stood there at the very edge of the dung pond
but she didnt get up
it was all very quiet
sometimes with the slight breezes
our feeling is welling but now it is incomplete
something that until then, I have not felt before
until that point of my life, I have never felt loneliness
I have never felt left behind
without the wagging tail
without the licking tongue
without the pouncing legs on the stomach & shoulders
without the familiar sitting & playing that has accompanied us for so long
for once, I think I have truly felt loss (if I may articulate it that way)
the longer I stood there the more our mutual feeling is being replaced by the loneliness
a kind of deep sadness
strangely I didnt cry (I would if I got cut or sick, where I can get relief from the pain & agony)
I didnt think of crying
my mother & my grandmother were both standing there with me, afraid that I might slip
their emotions turn from caution to concern to observant to boredom to calm
as they left me at the pond
my mother went slowly back to the house, seemingly pondering my strange behaviour
my grandmother stayed behind, but she kept doing her farmers work
but always staying close to me
keeping an eye on me perhaps
all this time I just stood there
frankly my mind is blank
I got tired standing, I squatted
I got tired of squatting, I stood
eventually the mosquitoes chase me back the house
from that day on, I know forever that I have lost my childhood companion dog the one & only one in the world that I ever have
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My adolescent dog |
- Every Singaporean has to perform military training
willing or unwilling
- Like the young men of my age, I was conscripted so to speak into the army on
29th March 1995
yap, I still remember it quite well
my family was there
my high school (called junior college in Singapore) classmates were there (those who are free or have finished the first phase of training)
they really come to send us off
of course, we were quite numb at that time
what, with so many people, walks of people, styles of people, manners of people
to stay together, live together, wash together, train together & fight together
makes me not want to wonder too much
I thought of keeping a low profile
like those in fire hazard
keeping low for more oxygen & less smoke
- The basic training is the toughest training of my life until that time
it was exhausting
physically, I not quite up to the demand & exercising has not been my priority since childhood
remember, I used to pounce until my parents bed got cracked
well, there was eons ago
during the interval, I was too engrossed in studies, grades, competition & frankly, playing selfish
playing has degenerated into exercising
degenerating into timed, focused & planned acts designed & intended to get what Im supposed to achieve
the fun, carefreeness, calming & basically the feeling has gradually deteriorated ever since the death of my childhood dog
it might be absurd to attribute all these to the death of my dog
but after so many years of pondering, thinking & carefully feeling, I believe I have sorted out this portion of my lifes puzzle
that the feeling that my childhood dog has given me is the basis of my belief & autonomous system
in short, Im coming into the military at the worst possible time for the military
- Needless to say, Im soon dragging myself through the whole thing
the unknown, the military rules, the regiments, the discipline, the drills, the terms used, the mode of operations, the living & bunking together
I especially find the team environment difficult, almost unbearable
though I never really speak thoroughly with anyone before
not even my mother, whom I cried during my first call home in the army camp
I was, u can say, depleted, deteriorated, damaged & demoralized
on the brink of breakdown
yet my philosophy is to keep a low profile
& I keep it firmly
so I didnt create too much disruption to military lifestyle
everyone likes smooth-flowing training, doesnt it?
there are few dogs anywhere
cause there are already so many in greens
- Later, I was sent to military police for specialized training so to speak
from the MP motto u can see the idea of the training style Pride, Discipline, Honour
training was quite tough
a bit more than those sickly clerks
a bit less than those mighty commandos
basically, we have become more tuned to the military style & rhythm
there were more things to learn in shorter time
academically, the soft side of military & law
technically, the regimental, hard side of safety, security & swiftness
we were trained for the motto
we shouted it morning, noon & night
before meal & after meal
before sleep & after sleep
the motto & training are expected to be integrated into us
as a dutiful student, I live up to these expectations
keeping my profile yet standing up at crucial moments
I was labeled a problem soldier
my mother is down with terminal-stage malignant lung cancer in hospital
my grandmother has just passed away
I dont look strong
my skin is too light to look healthy
my voice too light to, as they say, hold up the boat
like I say, it is the worst possible time for the worst possible training of my life
& Im in the middle of it
coming from months of basic training
& not daring to think of the even more months ahead
& the unknowns
I can safely say Im quite numb to everything
maybe thats how people learn to take more pains yet not complain
- Life was a bit better
the grounds are better sloping, green, hilly, quite scenic especially in the morning with the dew & birds chirping
I realize that the feeling is gathering in me
though Im too numb to acknowledge at that time
the food is better MP camp cooks are reputed to be the best in the business
though I have tasted food in fewer than three or four camps
I agree totally
it makes life a bit more tolerable with good food
when the numbness of my body is replenished with these nutrients
I heard they add things into the food to make us stronger
if thats true, it backfires the military training
on the other hand, if it makes food more tasty, well why not
hope no long-term detrimental effects
but the foods make me know Im a born glutton
if I dont think too much
like in my army daze
numb to everything
I eat a lot
it really keeps up the spirit
- The training is half regimental & half military
regimental in the drills, parades & SOPs
military in the obstacle course, firing, unarmed combat & field events
everyone doesnt like the training of course
but it is this feeling that we are in the same boat that soothe many conflicts
seeing the sacrifices that some would make for others not known for more than a few days or weeks really a power throttle to the rest of us
Im glad to say that everyone has on different, always situations help in one way or the other
whether by bobo, by joke, by bravery, by endurance, by strength, by spirit, by character, by idea, by action
for once, I suspect I seem to be feeling something Im beginning to feel with these heterogeneous people
something I have been numb to for years & worsened in the past few months
the feeling is welling inside me
- As the Chinese say, "There is no banquet in the world that lasts forever "
like it or not
the day came for us to split, so to speak
I have been informed to be sent to GSMB
Im as puzzled as everyone else where everyone else is going
but I know Im going somewhere
Lucky or not, Im the first to be sent off
the driver must be dutiful
he came straight for me
I left without turning my head back
heartless to my comrades
maybe
but this heartlessness takes nothing away
yet adds to the drama of military life
at that moment, it seems all the regiments, all the training, all the shouts, firing, laughter, sighing have come together
into a rojak of emotions
really explode
the quivering feeling that originates from the base of my spine
vibrating upwards across the shoulders
& into the head
I feel numb
not from training
but from the emotions from comradeship
I now understand the true meaning of camaraderie
& why many prefer to be in camps rather than out in the world at large
- I was sent to GSMB 2nd company Seletar camp section
subdividing into smaller divisions
divisionism
thats what the military is all about
& in Seletar camp, I finally met my adolescent dog that awaken the feeling in me that I thought I have lost
but is in fact buried within
covered the marshes of my intense preoccupation with surrounding events
- The camp was a dilapidated one
the place was comfortable
the amenities abundant
the food sufficient, but nowhere compared to the MPs
unlike my childhood dog which care absolutely for me
I met an angry bull dog that hates me
barks at me immediately when I step near the guardroom
seems like theres not going to be anything between us
he really does not like me
I wonder if its the smell
or the unfamiliarity
or the unfeeling
- He was called Ranger
the name given by our seniors who have since left the camp termed ORD
he was not some big, muscular pit-bull that rushes to bite
in fact, he looks quite common
could have a stray
he was in golden hairs with white spots around the eyes, mouth & belly
frankly, he was quite handsome for strays
he was fed by us with those cookhouse food leftover in metal can
& water in another
there was no doghouse
he slept in the same bunk with us separated only by our metal cupboards
he was of course chained in house in the day
lest he goes biting at strangers & worse, fellow company officers
we only unleashed him at night
when no one is supposed to around normally
he helps to prowl & alert us of strangers that we cannot detect at once
on more than one occasion, he has saved me from spot-checks by the officers
- Like to emphasize
his keen sense of smell is fantastic
that he smelled me at first
without visuals or audio
he can sense & alert us of unfamiliar smells
his nose is excellent
whats more he has great sanitary etiquette
never urinates or stools in house
but he would around the guardroom & we have to warn him of that
I heard that he was severely trained for the dog that he is now that Im looking at
there was a pull-up bar in front
we used it for training of course
but my seniors have used it to train Ranger also
whenever he was not obedient, he would be mercilessly hung from the bar with his hind legs tied to the bar
he is literally suspended like that in cattle slaughter house footage that we witness during the mad-cow scare around that time
of course, he whines like a sad dog
but he learns
slowly these supposed tough mindless training put him stronger & mindful
know what can do & what cannot do
is that how people train those that cannot understand them
I can only guess
- My real break came when a fellow mate told me to wash Ranger
oh my, isnt that asking to be bitten
surprisingly, no
he was always happy when someone takes the chain from the anchor & leads him outdoors
I think he feels extremely bored indoors
normally, he would bark at me
but when I loosen the chains & lead him out
he was willing, happy (with a sly-looking widened smile on his dog face) & not barking
of course, the first thing he does was to look for a right place to pee
mind you, he does not do it anywhere
I see that he deliberately, carefully & mindfully smelled different locations
& urinates some
but he does not empty all
Im always amused to see & imagine just how much urine he purposely stores up to pee in such planned manner
he also passes his stools deliberately
whenever he finishes them
he always take mind to smell his dung
& kick some grass over it
it is widely known that dogs smell & sometimes eat their own faeces
we cant judge other species behaviours with our perceptions
I guess he might find something to eat
he might also find out how he is physically
I also see him eating, as in chewing grasses, along the way during our prowl around
my fellow mate guessed that he was chewing herbs from the grounds
if thats true, he is doctor dog or dog doctor
we have a doctor on our grounds
unfortunately, I never take note of those grasses
but coming back to the bathe
I took him straight into the toilet
chained him up
he really looks like pup
whining & begging for his release
now I know he is afraid of water
if things vie out of control, water would keep him in
talk about dogs that swim
Ranger definitely is not one
hes scared stiff of water
especially the eyes
he doesnt want any to get into his eyes
so do I
think its painful
I wash him up & down
then release him
he sprang out
I nearly lost hold of the chain
he flings himself dry & went straight back indoors to lick himself dry
I realize later that this is not good, the dampness would be harder to remove indoors
I should dry him in the dry for a while
I think the dampness make him itchy
his body, as in from head to toe, is littered with ticks
maybe the dampness amplifies the itchiness
but whatever it is, Ranger & I are friends
- In the days of my military, this is a period of steady working without strenuous physical exertion
only for the physical fitness test IPPT
& later on the firing test
my main task is just to secure my camp
nothing else
this gives lots of room & space to roam around freely even during prowling
my numbness has been laid to rest
I like the rhythm (as Jordan used to say)
one day on, one day off
on off days, I gave tuitions, tidy up my life & prepare for my university days
in camp, Ranger & my fellow mates are always there
rain or shine
day or night
exercise or work
- Ranger, as a male dog, also goes out
at night of course
searching for mates
but hes an old dog
those young bitches might not like him
they like the strong & the energetic
we were often treated to free-shows of other dogs near our guardroom
Ranger is a street-wise dog
he knows the ins & outs of different places
our camp is his entire territory
he picks out exactly what he wishes
the night is his
but he always comes back
despite the chaining, the beating sometimes, the training, the washing
mind you, he can jolly well run off
but he always comes back
guess he doesnt get anything elsewhere
food is really important
he always comes back maybe for the food
maybe the shelter
maybe his grounds
maybe us
- We have lots of escapades together
the prowls often turn into exciting rendezvous with different creatures that we dont see in urban places
like the birds
some exotic species
some are hens running around
there was once a bird hen runs into the toilet
I lock it in
excited, I called Ranger in
he totally changed into a hunter
once he trains his eyes on the bird, he doesnt let go
he went after it
so focused was he that he often ignored our commands
he always get carried with chasing little creatures
the bird was of course killed by his bite
but the chase is exciting
from then, I took him for hunting during prowling
I guess it excites & exercises him
the lizards on the fences
he goes for anything that moves
when hes in that mode of chasing these, hes just a damn bundle of speeding fur
it was absolute fun
a bean in dogs skin, so to speak
- I remember on the outside of the camp, there are streams where the monitor lizards live & hunt for those drain fishes
we have pass through there during prowling
but it was fun
those monitor lizards often climb up from the drain streams on the road where we prowl
it was real exhilarating chasing those big lizards
some easily more than a metre long
with those long claws & comically swift wagging motion
& they are just simply real fast
even faster than Ranger who dashes straight for them whenever he detects them
he can smell them & they can smell him (their tongues are super)
sometimes I got tired of chasing
instead we ambush them
applying a bit military tactics so to speak
we hide quietly for some ignorant lizards to pounce on
some lizards are senile
once we ran into one
but the grounds are different
everywhere was fenced except the way we came
so the lizard was trapped
u know what it did
it dived straight into the nearby pool
it might well be just a puddle
the staff just dug for their fishes
this fellow just dives in to hide from us of course
he thought we are drought ducks
maybe for Ranger in bathing mode, that is
when I alert him to that fellow
he also dives in without second thoughts
it was thoroughly amusing to watch how tackles the monitor lizard (~1m) about as long as he is
& how he always takes care not to get water into his eyes
if the lizard had known that, Ranger might not get him
but the fool is a fool
he thought by hiding in those super shallow water, he can get away
fat hope
Ranger dives & tackles
I assists by poking rods into the lizard
eventually it was really killed
but we were both bloody but happy
he was panting up & down
we were totally exhausted
- Ranger also has a liking for rats
there were so many that I would actually try to step on one
especially near the rubbish bins & Rangers meal bowl
so we did the next best thing bring in the mouse trap
those that can be bought in animal or pet shops
the trap is rectangular box with clinger where the food (or bait) is hung
once tugged depending how hard, the gate (the only opening into the box & the food) would snap shut
the rat would be trapped in there
I caught a lot in this way
so many so that I try experimenting with them
I discover that Ranger likes chasing rats whenever he sees especially at night
his nose easily detects their scent
so I got him & the trapped rat into a locked room
& literally open the rat gate into Rangers open jaws
the rat sometimes need to be thrown out
they were clinging for their lives
it was damn fun watching Ranger catching the rats
they are swift, easy to suddenly change directions & quick to hide
Ranger in comparison is slower to turn & change direction
but he got quick bites
on more than a few occasions, I kick the rats into him to make it quicker for him
almost all rats treated this way by us were dead in the jaws of Ranger
- If thats exciting, this one is the greatest
the climax of our escapades
in fact, all my fellow mates came to help out
the intruder a giant king cobra
fresh after giving birth
& hungry
it was huge
at least 2m length
I discovered it sliding towards the staff room on a weekend
so luckily there was no one in
but I cant let it through
I tried striking it with a stone
wow, the reaction is textbook stuff
it immediately sprang up its trademark serpent stance
those two muscles on either side of its shoulders open
the "eyes" opening up in warning
it hisses strongly
not the cute innocent sounds of those small petite snakes
but the real angry, deep-throated himss of a king cobra
it was so deep I know it was ready to kill if necessary
I ran off to get fellow mates & Ranger to help
fun to say
we just grabbed anything
sticks, rods, branches along the way
it was like going for a strike
when we arrived, luckily it was still there
its head has now shrank back to normal
& sliding away
so we sort of caught up
threw whatever we had at it
it was angry
but slowly it slide down into a nearby drain
the turning point of our battle
the drain was open & the slope is high enough to avoid its attacking fangs
another stupid creature
nonetheless it was angry
its head is up, strong hissing, fangs open ready to strike
fast
though we had the cobra holed up so to speak
we need to kill it
just in case it is dangerous
it was only later on that we realize that the cobra is nursing
& needs food
people are not suitable
there plenty of rats around for them
but it was just too insecure to have cobras as pets
we have to kill it & its off-springs as well
but first this giant cobra
Ranger was excited
running here & there, barking
luckily he didnt try to bite it
it was the king of bites
even a child knows that from the animal chess
we also shouting him away
he was useless against it
but he eventually come very close
in fact, dangerously close to the cobra which was up & ready to strike
this damn Ranger just keep climbing in
we were not ready to pull him as there was a real danger
the cobra sensed that Ranger was coming too close
Ranger himself was not very firmly supported on the slopes
the cobra strikes
luckily it was not a bite
it spits (cobras are known to spit venom at targets, maybe as warning before a bite)
the spit (venom) goes right at his weak spot
the eyes
the cobra knows
Ranger immediately whines
& backs off
luckily he still has his other eye (only one is struck by venom) & he backs away correctly
upslope & to safety
where he whines, scratches & literally becomes his bathing mode
we were shouting at the top of our voices
luckily or not
the camp was deserted
so no commotion was created
we still continue to throw rocks
maybe now we feel angry & become more united at attacking the cobra
our comrade Ranger was mortally injured
by now, the cobra feels threatened
& it might have depleted its supply of venom
it tried to slide into an impossibly tight hole of the open drain
well, a snake without a head is like an ostrich digging its head into the ground
it was stupidity at the utmost
we saw our chances & knowing it would not bite & strike with its head in the hole
we aim & drop sharp rocks at the cobra body
the killer strike was by me
a sharp spike from a 2m height
into the slimy body
a snake has not backbones
its body is unprotected
hence its weak spot
so, remember fight a snake from its back, away from its head
after that spike, it slides for a while & stop
we were cautious not to touch for the whole day until the next day when everyone comes back
it was the greatest escapade of my life
with Ranger
- His eyes?
ooh
remember we have a doctor dog
the scratching & whining went on for days
but he eventually got well & slowly recovered his eyesight
he survived that spit by an angry cobra
the venom that might have anything from horses to cows
he survives it by not even going to vet
he did it by him
with a little help from us
one mate bought medicines & powders to rub his sore eyes
but recover he did
- Later in my army days, I was sent to another camp
& like my childhood dog, saw little of Ranger
he was still fine
but getting less active
age is catching up
the MPs couldnt care less about him
he was after all just a dog
but mind you, he alerts us of intruders
he was a guard dog
& we were the guards
sounds no different
- On my last day in military, I came to see him & bid everyone farewell & goodbye
Ranger was there
happy with food
so much so that he can afford to be choosy about which to eat
like the way he pees
the same, old Ranger
- I entered university & forgot about military
A year or two later
I heard from my juniors at the camp that Ranger was dead
dead by unnatural means
he was buried alive
by the commanding officer of the camp & his assistant
the both of them were continuously being barked by Ranger through the years
on more than a few occasions, I have heard threats coming from them to "kill that dog one day"
it turns out to be true
the way that Ranger has killed other creatures, he himself could not spared
by animals higher up the food chain
I heard that he was first dragged into the dark fringes of the camp, whacked hard with the back of a spade (they had planned to bury him alive), threw into a hole & covered with earth
left to die on the grounds where he can be called hero after that king cobra escapade
it really makes wonder whether we should have killed that snake
or let it into the staff room
we subsequently killed baby cobras in the camp, but luckily they are small
Ranger could well be their saviour
do dogs go to heaven?
I dont know
I only wish Ranger can die fast
forget his doctor dog style
he lived to his name
he truly is a Ranger
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