Nothing says 4th of July like FIREWORKS! It's a time for BBQs, water hoses, and a load of tomfoolery all around. There is no age limit to celebrating like a fool on the 4th. It is, after all, THE American holiday.
The 4th has come and gone as I type this. However, what has not gone away completely is the fireworks still going off all hours of the day and night as the people in our normally sleepy little town are steadily depleting their stash of booms.
Perhaps we should just make July a full-fledged holiday month? Makes sense to me! Anyway, I digress. Now that I have blathered on, let me get to the point of this post.
Kids...Dogs...and BOOMS!
I don't know about everyone else's kids, but mine love all the fireworks. The louder and brighter, the better! And since July is loaded with bright and loud BOOMS, it is by far their favorite month of the year (except maybe Christmas. Cuz ya know, presents and all!). Here it is the 16th as I write this, and there is already talk about tonight's display from the boom happy neighbor.
But you know who isn't feeling the giddiness over this wonderful month of celebration? My dog. King Alfred. Yeah, laugh...I named my dog King Alfred. :)
King Alfred is an English Staffordshire (pit bull), and loves his family. What he doesn't love is loud noises. The first night of fireworks started around July 1, and scared the bejubus out of the poor guy. By the time the 4th came around, he was growing irritated with each new firework that went off. And now it's weeks later, and he's grown really upset over them all. However, here is the actual funny part. Only when the children are outside does he get mad. He starts to round them up and barks and growls at the sky as he hears them BOOM. And he doesn't stop until they either do, or the kids go inside!
Talk about a loyal, protective family dog. He knows his kids, and he doesn't care who or what gets in the way, they will know about it. That includes fireworks...oh yeah, and thunder and lightning, too! HA!
But you know what the best part of this whole story is from my perspective--the writer perspective?
The people and animal interaction. While I have never written an animal character, I now have some insight into the relationship between humans and dogs, in this case. Should I ever decide to create a loyal dog, all I have to do is recall King Alfred and his interactions with my family. Does someone set off an explosion nearby in my story? The odds are my fictional dog isn't going to be too happy about it, and will probably be really concerned for my hero/heroine's welfare. He's going to whine and bark and growl, and no doubt try to keep my h/h from going anywhere near it!
So the overall point to this post...
Loud noises make my dog mad?
My town celebrates the 4th of July for a full month?
Learn to use everyday life and instances in your writing?
Depends on you!
Until next time,
Ishabelle Torry
You can find Ishabelle Torry on Facebook
Twitter @IshabelleT
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5 comments:
You definitely need to include King Alfred in one of your stories, Ishabelle. Fireworks have trailed off where I live. But the week before and right after the 4th was pretty bad. We've some vets in the neighborhood and they leave town because the illegal fireworks in particular sound like mortar-fire and that can bring on a PTSD episode. Glad King Alfred guards instead of having a mental, emotional and physical collapse like a neighbor's dogs. She has to put them in the basement and turn music on to dull the sound enough that she doesn't medicate them into a coma.
And, welcome to Romancing The Genres. Raising a glass to a long and rewarding relationship!
Hi Ishabelle
King Alfred sounds like a hoot! What a lovely member of the family.
We had a gorgeous Golden Retriever (until he was taken by cancer). I remember one night there were fireworks outside, and he parked himself outside our newborn baby's room. No one was getting in or getting past him. Despite being the sweetest, gentlest dog you could imagine, I really believe he would have protected the newest of our family pack.
I agree with Judith. King Alfred definitely needs to feature in a story!
Welcome to Romancing the Genres. This group is a fun, supportive bunch :)
Michelle xx
Welcome to the blog! I guess a lot of pet owners would go nuts if the whole of July was dedicated to fireworks!
Sadly, there is a little lost dog in our area named Biscuit who was frightened into running away by fireworks! Our two small dogs were very frightened. My Mother's little fox terrier, however, never minded fireworks. Go figure!
Also, welcome, Ishabelle! Loved your post!
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