Sarah Baker - Catching Gracie

Catch ing
Gr acie

SARAH BAKER

Copyright 2016 by Sarah Baker. 749818

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-5245-5084-4

Hardcover 978-1-5245-5085-1

EBook 978-1-5245-5083-7

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 10/17/2016

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DEDICA TION

This book is dedicated to my grandchildren: Carissa, Caleb, Elizabeth, Corey and Carstyn, who have brought so much joy to my life.

Bob and Jo Baker live in a quiet wooded area located two miles from Bruce, Mississippi. Weyerhaeuser, a large lumber company, owns acres of timberland round about them, which provide homes for many kinds of wildlife. Birds nest in the trees. Animals, such as deer, rabbits, squirrels, wild turkey, opossum, raccoon, fox, coyotes, or armadillo are frequently seen nearby. The shrill barking of the coyote can be heard at night as they roam and hunt in the woods. All in all, it is a peaceful place with plenty of space away from any busy roads. There are close neighbors, however, the trees provide plenty of privacy for the Bakers and their menagerie of chickens and their dachshund dogs, JoBob and Josie.

One Saturday afternoon while attending a baseball game, Daddy Bob met a lady who was walking her little red dachshund. He was immediately impressed with its sweet, friendly disposition and energy. He especially liked its characteristics of short legs, long ears, long nose, and long body.

Daddy Bob had been thinking about trying to supplement his retirement now that he was well into his retirement age. He was seventy-seven years old but still full of life. Then and there, he decided raising dachshunds would be a perfect hobby. Selling them would provide extra income.

The red dachshund was beautiful; however, he wanted to find a black and tan one. He began reading classified sections in the newspapers and buying the Tradewind magazines while searching for this type of purebred dachshund. Several dogs of this description were available, but most were too far away from Bruce. I really dont want to travel that far, Daddy Bob thought. There has to be one nearer home.

On Saturday morning, April 13, 2013, Daddy Bob told Momma Jo, Lets ride to the big flea market in Tupelo today and see what kind of dogs is being sold there. I just do not understand why he wants to get a dog, she thought. This is his endeavor and I dont plan on having anything to do with it. Reluctantly, she agreed to ride with him. They made the one hour drive into Tupelo. He then made his way through the crowd of people and into the building to look for the dogs. Momma Jo sat patiently in the car working her crossword puzzle.

Soon, Daddy Bob returned to the car. Without saying a word, he quietly stood outside the window waiting for Momma Jo to look up from her puzzle. Sensing someone was looking at her, Momma Jo looked up to see Daddy Bob standing there with a gorgeous, black and tan, male dachshund nestled in this arms. Its big black eyes peering at her seemed to say, I really need someone to love me. Instantly her heart melted. Oh Bob, you found one! she said. This is the only black and tan male dachshund the lady had left, he explained. He is four months old with lots of training already, and his vaccinations are all up to date. What luck!

All of Daddy Bob and Momma Jos nieces and nephews called them Uncle Bob and Aunt Jo, so the Bakers named their dachshund, JoBob. Since the April nights were too cool to put a young dog outside alone, JoBob became a house dog receiving all the love and attention a puppy could want. He learned fast and was very obedient to their commands. He quickly became a pampered pet.

Approximately ten months later, Daddy Bob decided JoBob needed some companionship. He contacted Ms. Randall, who was JoBobs previous owner, to see if she might have a puppy that could become a companion for him. He especially wanted another black and tan. She had one with some of the same colorization as JoBob; however, Ms. Randall replied, Her four feet look as though she is wearing white socks. The same piebald markings appear on the tip of her tail and chest. Daddy Bob replied, I dont know if I want that or not but would like to come see her. Two days later, the Bakers made the two hour drive to see the possible new dachshund. Upon seeing her, they knew immediately they wanted her to be a part of the family and gave her the name of Josephine (Josie for short). JoBob and Josie quickly became the best of friends, scampering and playing together as Daddy Bob worked the garden and did outside chores. Sometimes, Momma Jo feared JoBob might be too rough for Josie, but soon found out that Josie was able to hold her own ground. If he was not teasing her, Josie would initiate the action herself.

Josies mothers name is Gracie. Two months after Josie came to live with the Bakers, Daddy Bob contacted Ms. Randall again. This time he wanted to ask her to let him buy Gracie. After all, he thought he remembered Ms. Randall saying she was getting out of the dachshund business. Ms. Randall agreed to let him have Gracie. Gracie is black and tan - just like JoBob. The corners of her mouth wrinkle in such a way she looks like she is smiling or up to mischief.

April 5, 2014, was a nice spring day. The day before had been stormy but now the sun was shining brightly. Daddy Bob made plans to meet Ms. Randall in Ripley, Mississippi to get Gracie. Ripley is well known for hosting what is called a trade day every first Monday of each month and Ms. Randall planned to have a space there to show her dogs. She would have Gracie there. Upon arriving at the market, they walked around the area. Never had Momma Jo seen so many different animals and things for sell in one place! There were rabbits, goats, dogs, geese, chickens, and so much more; but where was Ms. Randall with her dogs? Finally, and with not much desire to walk any further, Momma Jo suggested they call Ms. Randalls cell phone to see if she could help them find her location. She dialed. Ms. Randall answered. Where are you? Momma Jo asked. A very apologetic voice responded, Oh, Im so sorry. The storms yesterday did damage to my kennels and Im home trying to get them in order again. Im sorry, I forgot to call you.

Already one and a half hours between Bruce and Ms. Randalls kennels in Tishomingo County, the Bakers decided to drive the other hour-long drive to pick Gracie up at the kennels. Several dogs were playing in the yard in front of Ms. Randalls house when they arrived. One of them was Gracie. After exchanging normal courtesies, Ms. Randall gave Gracies registration papers to Daddy Bob. She caught her and put her into the pet carrier the Bakers brought with them. She then placed the carrier in the back seat of Daddy Bobs car. As they pulled away, Ms. Randall said, Shes going to give you trouble. Everyone laughed without fully understanding the remark. Momma Jo turned to Daddy Bob and said, Now, what kind of trouble could she be?

Gracie did not like the carrier at all! She really wanted no part of this whole ordeal. She whined, scratched, and tried ever so hard to get out. Nothing of this nature had happened to her before, and she did not understand what was taking place. The five years at the kennels was the only life she knew. Why are strange people taking me away? she must have thought. She was too frightened to pay attention to the kind voice of Momma Jos as she tried to calm her, and she was too disturbed to enjoy the tasty doggie treats she gave Gracie through the grids of the carrier. An hour passed before Gracie seemed to decide it was useless to try anymore. She then lay quietly the last hour of the trip to Bruce, but she constantly eyed Momma Jo who was trying to reassure her that everything would be better soon.