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Well, I don't know about that.... Today is his birthday (yah, Pearl Harbor Day), so when he came by last night with the bill for his completed work, I gave him a small present: a rooster netsuke.
It was both dark and cold at 7:15 p.m. so I invited him inside. Both Dooley and Zorro were perched on the back of the sofa, which puts them at the perfect "You can't ignore me" height. (It's rough being a mini dachshund sometimes. Barking for attention whilst at ankle level annoys Momma, so they've learned to clamber up onto the back of the sofa and look cute.)
"Is this his spot?" John asked, as he scratched behind Dooley's ears.
"Yes, except when the cat is there. Then he has to jump over Smudge to walk the length up there. Almost a high-wire act," i bragged, as I reviewed the invoice, the attached receipts for materials, and opened my checkbook.
"Oh - I got you a little something for your birthday since I won't see you tomorrow."
We did the "you shouldn't have, Well I did" verbal volley for a minute, as I tried to make the gesture seem just nice, but not all that significant. I recall saying, "Well, you might not even like it," to which he replied, "So why would you give me something i wouldn't like?"
Exasperated with myself, I simply handed him the netsuke. "Here. It's just a little something to make you think about me, sometimes. At least its something manly..... Masculine...."
He turned it over in his hands, looking at the intricate carving. "Oh, it's a rooster!"
"It's a netsuke, do you know what those are?". He shook his head. So I explained what the original purpose for netsukes had been, why there were two holes carved in it, showing them to him.
"There are even feet carved on the bottom!" he exclaimed. "What is it carved out of?"
"It's supposed to be ironwood."
"Thank you. I even have the perfect place for it, on a cabinet I built, where I keep things .... Like this."
"You're welcome. I have a few other netsukes, because I think they're neat. I saw that dark rooster and thought it was something I'd like to give you."
He asked if I had taken it from my collection; no, I got it specifically for him. Well, I got it because I collect them, but that one made me think it might be a good gift for him.
Then I turned on the light in the hutch where I keep my hens-on-nest dishes and the various dragon figurines vie collected over the years. He immediately admired a large, intricate jade carving, then studied the rest of the items.
And then he said, "Well, I'd better get going. I'll see you on Saturday to take care of that switch and the nest boxes. Around eleven okay?"
Yup. On his way out, he noticed - for the first time - the four chickens roosting on the porch railing. Actually, he saw one, then when I said the four of them always roost there, he "found" the other three. He wanted to know who they were. Hitchcock, Wilbur, Clara and Elizabeth. He chuckled and asked them, "You don't like that nice coop I fixed up for you?"
Only Clara stirred, giving him the stink-eye. The others didn't take their heads out from under their feathers.
And off John went into the dark, down the driveway.
I will call him later today to remind him of the hearing on Friday; he had promised to attend, but that "see you Saturday" gives me an opportunity to remind him of the ... Obligation?
So, how'd I do, folks?
