HOLLY NADLER
508-693-3880
Good news: Our town is safe from those sinister scarecrows assembled along Circuit avenue by students from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. My hypervigilant dog, Huxley, has seen to that.
Boston terriers are the enforcers (or thugs, if you will) of the small-dog breeds, and mine is no exception. He’s especially indignant about the scarecrows’ presence; he trots up to them and barks his punched-in little face off until he’s convinced these invaders will stay immobilized for another few hours. And it’s working.
His worst remesis is the big galoot hulking in the outdoor alcove of daRosa’s. This buster stands nine feet tall, wears an orange fright wig, and has huge insect-shaped eyes in a goblin-sized face. And Huxley’s taking no chances: He also barks at the kid-sized figures propped up outside b * tru, a boy and a girl clad in Hansel and Gretel gear. This stout-hearted dog knows that homicidal maniacs come in every size, even midget size.
I promised myself when I took over the Oak Bluffs column again in September that I’d tell no dog stories, but this is my sixth filing, so here comes a quick, incisive yet cathartic fall off the wagon: My O.B. buddies, Gwen McAllister and John Wittaker, who all along have been Huxley’s godparents, have recently adopted a pooch of their own. Pearl (the canine formerly known as Princess) is one and a half years old and is some kind of cute beige chihuahua-terrier mix.
Pearl had suffered a few indignities in her brief life (including being impregnated by a pit bull; nothing against pit bulls, but little dogs often die giving birth to big dogs’ pups). A few weeks ago the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals called Gwen, her Mom and John at separate numbers, and all three converged on the shelter. Whatever bad karma Pearl was working out in the first 18 months of her life was obviously fully neutralized when the dog-crazy Gwen and John came into the picture.
The new owners’ sole concern was that Huxley would feel left out in the cold. In an idyllic world, the two dogs could meet and greet, and let the play dates begin!
But in this case, no one was rushing to introduce the cousins. Problem was, Pearl was shy and retiring to the point of trembling at the mere sight of another pooch. And Huxley, well, his favorite pal is a 7-month-old labrador-Big Foot mix named Coco, who is easily twice Hux’s size, with 100 per cent of his ferocity. When Coco and Huxley tussle, the big ruffian will often get her whole mouth around the little warrior’s entire head, and start to chomp down on it. Need I tell you, when this happens, Huxley is in heaven?
But finally the tender-hearted John and Gwen felt guilty that their godpup was being neglected. We made a date to take our kiddos to the dog park at Trade Winds. We placed them face to face, and removed their leashes, waiting to pounce if Huxley decided to make chien a la princesse out of the smaller dog. He sprang at her, all herky-jerky, the way Bostons do, but Pearl performed a yoga downward-facing dog stretch, bunched her facial muscles into a bouquet of scowls, and growled and yipped and held her own. Huxley continued to charge, but all of his assaults were feints and fakes as Pearl continued to show him who was boss. Finally, the formalities over, they bounded over the fields, with Pearl padding happily behind her big bro. When occasionally a strange dog gallumphed up to Pearl, Huxley would chase it off. How happy an ending is that?
Okay, no more dog stories for another six weeks, minimum.
It’s great when Vineyard talent translates into off-Island success. Jake Estabrook, at 18 already known for his theatre work at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, the Vineyard Playhouse and the Katharine Cornell Theatre, now a freshman in the theater arts program at the College of Santa Fe, was cast in a play almost immediately. He’s playing the always-coveted role of the bad guy in a fascinating work called Speak Truth To Power which first debuted in 2000 at the Kennedy Center For Performing Arts. Next thing you know, Jake will have his own prime time television series.
And that’s not all! Today at 3:30 p.m. at the library, there’ll be a Full Moon Story Time and party for 6 to 10-year-olds. Apaprt from the scary stories, kids will make spooky mobiles and lollipop ghosts and eat treats. On Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 10:30 a.m., pre-schoolers will enjoy their own Halloween story time — wear costumes and party hearty.
The Oak Bluffs School has its Halloween party scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. Volunteers are eagerly desired, so call Dawn Sayre at 508-693-4841 or Brenda Wallis at 508-696-8210. Proceeds of the bake sale will benefit the seventh grade class trip.
And just in from the library: A regular coffee time is being inaugurated for Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
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