What A Shame!

Recently, whilst visiting a friend in a retirement home, I noticed a darling little grey toy poodle sitting at the feet of her mistress, whilst she was sitting at a table among other retirees, drinking her morning coffee. Had it not been for the little dog, my gaze would no doubt have continued to sweep idly across the assembled company. The red collar, around the elegant grey throat, had a lead attached. My gaze followed the line of it, up to where it was being held by the hand of the Mistress.

And so I came to notice her. I don't know about you, but I’m a sucker for poodles, and this one was a real cutie. I couldn't resist the opportunity to get acquainted, so I drifted across for an admiration session. The Mistress, like all poodle owners, was quite ready to receive my overtures and quickly told me that Tricia came from England, as she herself did.

“Then that makes three of us, because I, too, am from England.” She smiled for the first time, rather sadly. “I'm going back, and so is Tricia. We don’t wish to stay here.” She paused and then went on to explain that Tricia was a gift from her late husband. After his death, she came to Australia to be with her daughter. When she moved into the Retirement Home, she was assured that Tricia could accompany her. All seemed very satisfactory. She was very comfortable and well looked after. The staff were kindness itself.

However, no one took into account the attitude of many of the residents. They were all acquainted with the rules regarding the possession of pets, but many of these people, chose to forget, because it suited them to do so. They chose to act uncharitably. The tormenting quickly began. This poor lady was having to withstand unkind remarks, innuendos, sly digs, open criticism. In fact, the whole gamut of nastiness.

What a shame that she should have to endure this special form of human torture that some of our kind choose to hand out spitefully, yet would themselves hate to receive from others.

During the next few days, the plight of Tricia and her Mistress was very much in my mind. I was appalled by the thoughtless cruelty being perpetrated by elderly citizens, who surely should know better, against one of their own.

Jealousy and prejudice lay at the root of so many of our baser thoughts, attitudes, and then, unfortunately, actions. I am sure, were we honest, we could all plead guilty to at least one instance of these two nasties in our past. Perhaps, like a mosquito, one crept up upon us, at first. What a shame it is that we failed to notice. Before we could take evasive action, it had already plunged its proboscis into our arm and infected us with its poison.

What a shame that we allow jealousy and prejudice to enter our hearts. To eradicate these would go far to eradicating the need for humankind to go to war.


- Sylvia Roff-Marsh