My Buddy Blacky

This is not a picture of Blacky.  I don’t really have a picture of Blacky, other than in my head.  This is a picture of the best look alike from Google images.

I have no siblings.  An “only child” as I was branded.  For many, I was the lucky one, didn’t have to share my toys, clothes, room not even my parents.  I did feel rather special at most times, but it  wasn’t for those reasons above.  I felt amazingly special because I had the best parents.  I was their princes, angel and miracle. They made me feel that everyday and every moment.  Now as a mother of two, I know as a parent it doesn’t matter how many kids you have, each one is special and a miracle. However, I felt very lonely at times.  I wish I had someone to share the toys, clothes and the room.  I am pretty sure I would have been okay to share my parents too.

Then came Blacky.  I came up with that name all by myself.  My kids still tease me about this.  At least my dog was 95% black.  I had a cousin whose dog was called Goldie, but she was white as white can be.  And another who called their dog “Girl Dog”.

Blacky was a German Shepherd crossed with who knows what.  He came to us as a mangy looking tiny pup, but in months he was showing signs of being fed by well meaning Sri Lankan cooks.

Blacky went everywhere I went.  He was my body guard, my companion, my pal and my world.  Each morning when I left for the school bus he would walk up to the bus stop and after I leave he will go back home by himself.  And he will be there to take me back home too.

Along with the above duties, he was also a keen Gardner and an Aborist.  We had a great big fruit tree called Cherimoya.  He believed it was his duty to clean up these fruits as they fell down.  And in some cases he would speed up the process by jumping at them.

Never seen a dog who was so happy to eat a fruit.  I am not sure if it was good for him or not.  In those days in Sri Lanka, especially where we lived there was no vets, or any education in terms of bringing up pets. There was no books, no google.  We just fed them what we ate and did things that felt right.

I shared everything with Blacky.  Food, Secrets, make up. But I gave him chocolate as well. I had no idea that I was slowly killing my companion.  I am so sorry Blacky.  I wish you lived another 100 years.