The Duke
"I’m not the sort to back away from a fight. I don’t believe in shrinking from anything. It’s not my speed; I’m a guy who meets adversities head on.”
– John Wayne
Growing up in the country is as free as you can get. There’s more than enough room to run, nature to explore, and Texas watermelon fields to gorge on. As an only child, it was also lonely. Until Duke showed up, nearly dead, on my door step.
Dad called him a Heinz 57 dog. Which meant that he was a mix of everything and anything. The bone skinny exhausted dog must have been walking for days. The pads of Duke’s feet were worn and bloody, but he survived the night and I had a best friend. My constant companion, he would wait for me outside of school and we’d wander the countryside together. One day a group of girls wanted to fight me. Duke just moseyed up and sat right next to me, staring them down with a low growl as if to say, “Go ahead and try something.” He was the great protector of our family and our land, keeping all the wild things at bay. His specialty was chasing skunks. We gave him a tomato bath more than once, attempting to mask the horrid smell. To this day, that smell reminds me of Duke’s unconditional love and loyalty.
Racquel Dawn is the creator of the “Talkin’ Produce” column and owns Farmers Market of Grapevine in Texas with her husband. You can read more of her work at www.racqueldawn.blogspot.com
– John Wayne
Growing up in the country is as free as you can get. There’s more than enough room to run, nature to explore, and Texas watermelon fields to gorge on. As an only child, it was also lonely. Until Duke showed up, nearly dead, on my door step.
Dad called him a Heinz 57 dog. Which meant that he was a mix of everything and anything. The bone skinny exhausted dog must have been walking for days. The pads of Duke’s feet were worn and bloody, but he survived the night and I had a best friend. My constant companion, he would wait for me outside of school and we’d wander the countryside together. One day a group of girls wanted to fight me. Duke just moseyed up and sat right next to me, staring them down with a low growl as if to say, “Go ahead and try something.” He was the great protector of our family and our land, keeping all the wild things at bay. His specialty was chasing skunks. We gave him a tomato bath more than once, attempting to mask the horrid smell. To this day, that smell reminds me of Duke’s unconditional love and loyalty.
Racquel Dawn is the creator of the “Talkin’ Produce” column and owns Farmers Market of Grapevine in Texas with her husband. You can read more of her work at www.racqueldawn.blogspot.com
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