Corporal Fips

It was a bright morning, and I could tell that Fips was hankering for a walk. “Aus-band?” Fips started jumping around, making it more difficult yet to put on his collar. I gathered up my keys and his leash and headed out the door.

Our apartment building is built in the form of a rectilinear “U”, with open air landings flanking the interior courtyard. Four large apartments along the base of the “U”, front out onto the lake. Two smaller apartments on either prong of the “U” look out onto the courtyard. The elevator shaft is located in the middle of the U’s base.

Typically, Fips will chase out the door, turn left and run to the elevator where he waits impatiently for that special grinding-click that tells him the lift has arrived. I’ve always been impressed with how quickly he connected a particular noise, to the approach and arrival of the elevator which he understands is the thing that takes him downstairs which leads to out to where all the sniff n’ piss takes place Anyone who says dogs don’t think, thinks less than a dog.

But this morning .....

Fips chased out the door as usual and suddenly came to a dead stop. There was a momentary silence followed by a very emphatic

Grrrrraaauff!

and

Grrrrrrrrr-grrrrrrr GrrrrAUF!!

What the devil....? I looked around to see what he could be barking at. I didn’t notice a thing. So I looked at Fips to see what Fips was looking at. He was staring very intently at the door to one of the inside apartments diagonally across from the elevator.

????

Grrrrrrrrr-grrrrrrr GrrrrAUF!!

Then I figured it out. He was barking at a large jack-o-lantern pumpkin that the occupants had put by the front door.

Fips was very disconcerted. Fips may not write, but he keeps his accounts. That head without a body was nothing he was familiar with or approved of. It had not been there yesterday. It was not supposed to be there and whatever it was... it was nothing too friendly either.

Grrrrrrrrr-grrrrrrr GrrrrAUF!!

Oh... Fipsie... It’s OK, It’s OK.... C’mon lets go walkie-poo

The elevator made it’s grinding click, I opened the door and Fips trotted in, having made his point and done his duty.

.