Although Smudgy has been dead for more than fifty years, I sometimes recall both with fondness and sadness that wonderful dog, and playmate.
In order to understand the importance of Smudgy in my life, I need to describe a little bit about the street, Leopold, which I lived on until the age of 10. Leopold was only one block with just two boys my age living on it. Before I got Smudgy, both of my friends on the block had dogs, Bitsy who was a St. Bernard, and Spike, who was a mutt. Spike, who belonged to my good friend, Bucky Beach, could actually climb a fence, a feat that I have never seen performed again by another dog. Needless to say, my parents knew how much I wanted a dog to be my faithful companion. Moreover, because we had only a few neighbors, and my sister and brother were much older, I frequently had no playmates. Thus, Smudgy became my most loyal companion for some seven years. That is, we got Smudgy when I was about five and he was killed by an automobile when I was about twelve.
My Aunt, Evelyn, nicknamed Babe, had a dog named Penny who had seven offspring one summer. One night Mom and I went over to Aunt Babe’s house, and Mom surprised me with the announcement that when Smudge was about three weeks old, we would take him to our house. I can remember the seemingly interminable delays waiting those few days until Smudgy was really mine. In fact, almost every day I would ask Mom whether she would drive over to Aunt Babe’s house so that I could see and pet Smudgy. Smudgy’s full name was Smudge Pie, but we quickly shortened it.
The first few days, Smudgy stayed with us, he cried or barked incessantly at night, because he missed his mother and brothers and sisters. I begged Mom to let Smudgy sleep in my room, but she said that Smudgy needed to remain outside until he was toilet trained. In fact, Smudgy was allowed into our house on Leopold only to play with me or when it was raining hard outside.
Needless to say, Smudgy and I became fast friends. Bucky Beach and I would wander down to the bayou with our beloved dogs. We no longer feared snakes because we knew that both dogs would make short work of any venomous snake.
Smudgy and I played together almost incessantly while I lived on Leopold. I would wrestle with him, frequently getting him in headlocks, give him massages, and play ball with him. Occasionally, I would try to tie a bow tie around his neck, but within seconds he would use his paws to pull of the bow tie. Smudgy preferred to wear what nature provided him with not fancy clothes to embellish his looks. Unlike Doc, the dog we got for Michele and Danielle, Smudgy’s best friend was me. He would wag his tail vigorously whenever he saw me.
In the summers, I went to camp, while my parents were in Europe handling the Werlin International Tours. One summer, Smudgy stayed with my Uncle Earl, which was a disaster. When Smudgy saw me, he barked with delight. However, Uncle Earl to discipline Smudgy would beat him unmercifully. My family and I were mortified by my Uncle’s treatment of Smudgy. While nothing was said, henceforth Smudgy stayed at a kennel the other summers we were away. When we picked up Smudgy at the kennel, he was thrilled. He and I would sit in the backseat and he would go back and forth sticking his head outside the window or licking me. He even licked my father which was unusual act of embrace for either one of them.
While Smudgy was toilet trained, he frankly was not very disciplined. I did not know how to train him, and thus he was somewhat of a nuisance to my next door neighbors. For some reason, Smudgy loved the gardens of several of my neighbors, and certainly dug up some of their flower beds. On one occasion, I was a little embarrassed when Smudgy did some damage to the yard of an elderly neighbor. In order to convey my sorrow, but also prevent Smudgy from getting into serious trouble, I told my neighbor that dogs were like children and sometimes did not obey instructions. My elderly neighbor laughed at my excuse, and never punished Smudgy for trampling on her beloved gardens.
One day I looked onto our lawn and saw what I initially thought was snow. I was delighted. Snow in Houston is a very rare treat, coming about once a decade. However, on closer inspection, my parents and I found out that Smudgy and ripped open several pillows and the contents were strewn all over our yard. Needless to say, I was assigned the clean up detail. I carefully explained to Smudgy that he just could not eat up pillows in the future. He looked into my eyes, and promised never again to make such mischief.
On another occasion, Smudgy went into the back seat of Mr. Beach’s truck and enjoyed a wonderful feast of the best steaks in town. Mr. Beach had forgotten to close the back door of his truck tightly and Smudgy took full advantage of the opportunity. Mr. Beach was not upset with Smudgy, but instead laughed about his carelessness.
When I moved from Leopold to Burkett, my relationship with Smudgy changed. That is, by this time I was attending St. John’s and thus Smudgy was alone for most of the day. Needless to say, it was difficult for Smudgy to adjust to his life in isolation. He would howl when I came home and beg for me to play with him. Unfortunately, while he could sit with me while I did my homework, I really did not have much time for him. I, therefore, am very empathetic to the loneliness of dogs, and feel badly if their owners cannot give the dog tremendous attention. Thus, when I reflect on Smudgy, sometimes I get a little teary-eyed think about his loneliness he last few years.
Also, the sudden death of Smudgy in a car accident was a major blow. I was totally unprepared for his death. Moreover, my parents convinced me that it would be unfair to get another dog, given by frequent absences from the house. Thus, Smudgy’s death left a void that has never been filled.
In retrospect, while I do love dogs and think they are the most loyal, wonderful companions, I also recognize that dogs require on-going care and attention. Moreover, I do not feel that dogs belong in an apartment. Instead, they should be outside and enjoying the outdoors with little children and other dogs. I will always affectionately think of Smudgy and look back nostalgically to those care free dogs when the two of us for hours played together.
