Dixie
Scott Mclean
The new place brought new friends and adventures. Unfortunately it also brought the loss of my companion since the age of 4.
I think Dixie missed the old irrigation ditch in Tieton so she would occasionally go to the canal on Cowiche Mountain for a swim. Other than that, she pretty much kept to our property.
She had a litter of pups and like most of her breed was protective. The neighbors weimaraners were prowling around and Dixie stood in the bottom of the driveway to warn them off. Someone swerved to avoid the Weimaraners and actually hit Dixie in our driveway. We knew the man and he felt terrible. I was heartbroken but wanted to shoot the 2 dogs responsible for the loss of my friend. Dad explained why I could not do that but if the opportunity presented itself I would have been hard pressed not to take it. She was a truly great dog and started a lifetime attraction to the breed.
Now on to lighter subjects.
My Aunt and Uncle had added a second story to the house. Something in the construction made a sound like someone walking upstairs as the house cooled. The oil furnace also made strange noises but we were used to it. The neighbor kid would not come into the house unless my folks were there and never at night.
I’ve told this before but Steve and I were playing a card game past our bed time. Looking out the bedroom door, we saw the shape of someone standing on the stairway. We thought it was Mom about to chew us out or scare us. We both realized the figure was short and very slender. It was definitely not Mom and we freaked a little. When we dared look again, the stairs were empty.
My cousin’s, who had lived there before us, told of walking back across the field from their Grandparents and seeing a figure in the window at the top of the stairs. When they got to the house, no one was there.
My son Kyle and Nephew TJ later told me of opening the stair doors and seeing an older woman. They never mentioned it until I talked about Steve and mines encounter. So evidently the chief resident spook there is attracted to the stairway.
There were other occurrences but we came to just accept them.
We had another change at the time. Our first color TV! Of course we only got 2 stations and reception at the base of Cowiche Mountain sucked.
Next chapter will tell more of what my older sister claimed was me tormenting her and her friends. The nerve of some people to besmirch my good name!
Later.