From the ages between our teens to early 20s, most of us had a streak of rebelliousness. It just comes with the territory.
So it is with the discussion of risqué topics that at that age we tend to discuss it openly. Call it boldness, brashness, naivety, inexperience or just being hot-blooded. We used to get a thrill from the shocked expressions from the older generation when we openly talked about such a topic. But as we get older, we tend to mellow down and tend to fluster and blush a bit if one of these subjects come up.
That's why I believe double entendres are innovative social solution invented for us older folks, to indulge in polite society or at work. You can get away by saying alot by saying so little. Honestly I think it's funnier when you jokingly talk about risque subjects subtly rather than openly. In fact, it's even more fun when the other person walks right into a double entendre unknowingly.
So that's how it happened last week when one of my colleagues was eavesdropping on my conversation about my time at the shelter. Imagine you hearing things like, "Safina almost dislocated my shoulder. Buddy is a great hugger. Sunny covered my face in kisses. Charlotte ran her nails down my arm. Rody peed on me."
You would probably accuse me of debauchery. Well that's what happened here. But when she curiously asked about where I met these shameless characters in Askar, I innocently said BSPCA. And when she asked what it stands for, I waited a moment and then said Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals. There was pin drop silence which was followed by profuse apologies when she realised I was talking about dogs. Well she never eavesdropped on another of my conversations again.
That's why I don't envy the younger lot. Let them have their brazen talk. It's us older folks who are truly being rebellious without openly being so. Such fun.
On Friday, I hung out with Mambo, Babel, Latino and Safina.
Mambo is such a sweet, affectionate and energetic young chap. He's ever ready to go out on a walk and tends to pull a bit on the leash initially, but then settles down later on. In fact, he patiently sat by my side whenever I stopped to chat with someone. I definitely must give credit to our volunteer Anil for all the time he spent with him. Bravo!
After our long walk, we came back to the shelter and after he cooled down in the tub, we chilled for a bit in the shade. He didn't put up a fuss when it was time to go on. So well-behaved.
I believe Babel is most likely named after the Biblical Tower of Babel. He is aptly named because of his apprehension of going out. One voice in his head was excited, one wanted to go back in, another wanted to walk in the confines of the shelter car park area and finally another who just doesn't know what he wants. So imagine all these voices conversing with each other. Yep, you got it. Tower of Babel.
Nevertheless, despite the circles he walked around me in his indecisiveness of going ahead or not, it was a lovely walk. We walked almost till the highway until he had enough. Once we got back, he refused to cool off and dragged me back to his kennel. Only then did he decide to cool off his paws in his drinking tub.
Latino, Babel's kennel mate, is another confused character. He really wanted to go out but he was hesitant and timid about it. After a few tries, I managed to get the leash around his neck. That's when he pulled me out till the gate excited to be out.
However, it all went downhill from there. Though the remaining two treats in my pocket were his incentive to keep walking, he lost all resolve when the rewards ran dry. That's when he indicated that he wanted to go back by blocking me from going ahead. So back inside with him . But once he was in his kennel, he started eagerly pressing his kennel door wanting to go out again. Oh brother!
May Allah save me from such incorrigible darlings.
Like Babel, he's been a resident there since 2016, so I think he must have withdrawn into his shell from the long time he's been there. But I am sure all he needs is lots of love, attention and affection to help him out.
Safina was my last there. That girl definitely knows what she wants. The moment we reached the gates, she obstinately put her foot down to tell me she just wanted to be out of her kennel. That's it!
So we ended up sitting side by side on the bench and just enjoying our time together.
It was a lovely way to unwind after all that walking. I am holding my hopes up that she will get her chance at a forever home. She has been there since October 2015.
If you are interested in hanging out with or adopting Mambo, Babel, Latino, Safina or any of the other furry residents, do please stop by on Volunteer Weekends from 9 am till 1 pm.
