Unusual Dogs and Other Pets II

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"Pango" became so popular he earned an article in our local newspaper. Read this next rhymed story to find out how. So far we read about a cat who knocks on the door to come in. Any more? "The Four-legged Child" He got up from the front porch as our school bus came in sight; All wide-eyed and begging us to play. And all the children knew him as he bounded 'round our feet Because he knew he'd have some fun that day. It always was the custom among the neighb'ring kids To meet at nearby park right after school. Now Pango took to foll'wing and begging us to play We all decided we'd include him too. The soccer ball we brought was just the perfect toy 'Cause he couldn't pick it up and run away But we found that he would chase it if we rolled it to and fro To play our form of "keep-away" all day. But one day we decided to change our form of play By climbing up our big, tall sliding board. With two humps in the middle, we would slip and slide away; To run around and get in line for more. Now Pango, barking fiercely, as each kid would slide and go Was "beside himself" in trying to follow them. With encouragement I called for him to climb the ladder, tall To slide down on the slide and join right in. At first he was quite clumsy with his two rear narrow feet To make a purchase on the rungs, though rather wide. So I climbed up right behind him just to steady his ascent Up top, where he would finally make his slide. And slide, he did, from top to end with kids all laughing loud. And then I saw the strangest sight around; When kids lined up to take a turn to slide upon the slide By counting legs on line, here's what I found.... 1, two legs, 2, two legs, 3, two legs, and then; 4, two legs, 5, two legs, 6, FOUR legs and......FOUR?! Have we discovered something new in this strange world of ours? The first "four-legged" child is now adored. Our small, four-legged child would never quit, by any means. The next day he'd surprize us yet, again. Our bus had been delayed so we had not arrived on time And Pango was not there to greet the "gang". We called him as we left to go and gather at the park. But Pango was nowhere that we could see. We all were disappointed as we entered through the gate; Then laughed at something funny as can be. For there was our dog Pango, all alone and on that slide And people came to watch both near and far The local paper saw it, saw some human interest there; That's how our Pango soon became a star. By Carl J Bridgman Mar. 8, 2025