LIAM'S YARNS
A CHRISTMAS STORY
BY LIAM PLOWES
(Three hours later)
Well, it shouldn't be long now before Santa arrives! Colleen got really spooked by the ghost stories and is hiding under the table. She reckons it's the safest place to be, just in case Santa isn't pleased with us. After all, we haven't exactly been GOOD LITTLE WHEATIES over the past year. There was the matter of Audie's watch band, and Audie's new glasses frames, and Audie's bedroom carpet (that Caelan used to floss her teeth) AND the book that Audie foolishly left on the lounge chair!
Oh well! Wheaties WILL be Wheaties , and we aren't called the IRISH MAFIA for nothing!
Caelan, poor baby, has gone to sleep in front of the Christmas Tree, and Colleen has opted for Audie's bed, which leaves just me, the brave, fearless Man Of The House.
Before Caelan fell asleep, she left some of her favourite liver treats for Santa, along with a glass of milk. Her little stocking is hanging from the mantle-piece, right next to Colleen's and mine. And here I wait - never leaving my post.
HEY! What's that noise? Sounds like silver bells and the voices of strange animals I've never heard before.
IT MUST BE SANTA!
Oh well! Wheaties WILL be Wheaties , and we aren't called the IRISH MAFIA for nothing!
Caelan, poor baby, has gone to sleep in front of the Christmas Tree, and Colleen has opted for Audie's bed, which leaves just me, the brave, fearless Man Of The House.
Before Caelan fell asleep, she left some of her favourite liver treats for Santa, along with a glass of milk. Her little stocking is hanging from the mantle-piece, right next to Colleen's and mine. And here I wait - never leaving my post.
HEY! What's that noise? Sounds like silver bells and the voices of strange animals I've never heard before.
IT MUST BE SANTA!
Now I see the shape of a BIG man in a red and white suit, carrying a huge bag over his shoulder! His long silver hair is covered with a red cap and he has a beard longer than MINE!
Ah, he's seen me!
Ah, he's seen me!
THE COMING OF CAELAN
BY LIAM PLOWES
G'Day Everybody! I was sitting here at the computer trying to think of what story you might like to hear next, and then it dawned on me. I would tell you about my little Sister, CAELAN, and how she came to live with us.
It all began on St. Patrick's Day 2000. I had heard the songs Over The Rainbow and When You Wish Upon A Star, and I wondered if such things were really true.
Ever since I came to live with Audie, I longed for a little Sister or Brother to play with.
Great, Great Aunty Carla was too old to play, and my Sister Colleen was three years older than me, and a 'LADY' - and she seemed to think I was just a silly little boy!
I needed someone my own age to play with, so I decided to 'wish upon a star' and, because it was St. Patrick's Day, I thought that a few little words in his ear wouldn't go astray!
WELL! That night as I slept peacefully in my cubby beside the bed, I suddenly felt something tickling my beard. I opened first one eye, then the other in dismay, because I couldn't BELIEVE what I saw sitting at my feet, grinning at me!
It all began on St. Patrick's Day 2000. I had heard the songs Over The Rainbow and When You Wish Upon A Star, and I wondered if such things were really true.
Ever since I came to live with Audie, I longed for a little Sister or Brother to play with.
Great, Great Aunty Carla was too old to play, and my Sister Colleen was three years older than me, and a 'LADY' - and she seemed to think I was just a silly little boy!
I needed someone my own age to play with, so I decided to 'wish upon a star' and, because it was St. Patrick's Day, I thought that a few little words in his ear wouldn't go astray!
WELL! That night as I slept peacefully in my cubby beside the bed, I suddenly felt something tickling my beard. I opened first one eye, then the other in dismay, because I couldn't BELIEVE what I saw sitting at my feet, grinning at me!
He wore a green suit and had a green hat with a big shamrock on it. His hair was red and he wore little spectacles on his button nose. He touched me again with the big shamrock he had in his hand and did a funny little jig at my feet.
After I got over the shock, he spoke to me in a deep husky voice with a broad Irish brogue.
He told me that St.Patrick had sent him and that I was to go with him to meet 'HIMSELF'!
After I got over the shock, he spoke to me in a deep husky voice with a broad Irish brogue.
He told me that St.Patrick had sent him and that I was to go with him to meet 'HIMSELF'!
WOW!
He took me by the paw and soon we were zooming high into the night sky.
When we got so high that I couldn't see the Earth anymore, the sky was blue, the sun was shining and ahead I could see this HUGE Rainbow.
"We are going to the other side of that rainbow," the Leprechaun said, pointing with his shamrock. "THAT is where you will meet ST.PATRICK!"
I just nodded my head because I was lost for words.
When we got so high that I couldn't see the Earth anymore, the sky was blue, the sun was shining and ahead I could see this HUGE Rainbow.
"We are going to the other side of that rainbow," the Leprechaun said, pointing with his shamrock. "THAT is where you will meet ST.PATRICK!"
I just nodded my head because I was lost for words.
WOOSH! ZING! WHAM! We hit the ground!
Everything was green and there were little crystal streams and tall trees with lots of dogs running about and playing gleefully.
I realized I must be in Doggie Heaven! Was this the RAINBOW BRIDGE?
A splendidly dressed, tall man approached me and said in a friendly manner:
"Liam, WELCOME ! You have made a special request and your prayer has been heard, and shall be answered. Come and see -"
I followed him along a path which was fringed with flowers of every kind and every colour. Then we passed by a stream into a little forest area where there were lots of puppies at play. A doggie Angel was watching over them.
Then I saw her! The sweetest little baby girl I have ever seen.
One tiny puppy came running happily up to me and began to tug on my tail as I sat captivated by the sight before me. It was a WHEATEN puppy and she was chattering to me in the sweetest little voice I had ever heard.
"Are you going to be my big brother? Are you? Are you?" she gleefully piped.
St. Patrick smiled and told me that it was true. I was to be her very own big Brother, and she was to become my very own little Sister.
I realized I must be in Doggie Heaven! Was this the RAINBOW BRIDGE?
A splendidly dressed, tall man approached me and said in a friendly manner:
"Liam, WELCOME ! You have made a special request and your prayer has been heard, and shall be answered. Come and see -"
I followed him along a path which was fringed with flowers of every kind and every colour. Then we passed by a stream into a little forest area where there were lots of puppies at play. A doggie Angel was watching over them.
Then I saw her! The sweetest little baby girl I have ever seen.
One tiny puppy came running happily up to me and began to tug on my tail as I sat captivated by the sight before me. It was a WHEATEN puppy and she was chattering to me in the sweetest little voice I had ever heard.
"Are you going to be my big brother? Are you? Are you?" she gleefully piped.
St. Patrick smiled and told me that it was true. I was to be her very own big Brother, and she was to become my very own little Sister.
But how could that be? What was she doing here?
St. Patrick sat down on the soft, warm grass, and told me this remarkable story:
St. Patrick sat down on the soft, warm grass, and told me this remarkable story:
"Liam, all the puppy souls waiting to be born stay here until it is time for them to enter the world you live in. Because you asked for a little Sister, this little soul was selected to be born in Brisbane, Australia, and to go to your home. Your Audie will choose her to be her own baby puppy and so she will become your little Sister. Because you have been such a good boy, you have been granted your St.Patrick's Day prayer."
"When will she arrive?" I asked excitedly.
"She will be born on the first day of October," was St. Patrick's reply.
On that note, the doggie Angel came and took the puppy away and, in what seemed like seconds, I was back in my cubby by the bed, and the rays of the morning sun were streaming through the window.
I sighed heavily. It had only been a dream, - - - or HAD IT?
"When will she arrive?" I asked excitedly.
"She will be born on the first day of October," was St. Patrick's reply.
On that note, the doggie Angel came and took the puppy away and, in what seemed like seconds, I was back in my cubby by the bed, and the rays of the morning sun were streaming through the window.
I sighed heavily. It had only been a dream, - - - or HAD IT?
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POST SCRIPT
On the 1st of October, in the year 2000, a puppy was born and came to live with us as soon as she was old enough to leave her Mummy.
We called her CAELAN.
We called her CAELAN.
Audie bringing Caelan home
Here I am talking to Caelan
Caelan going in the car!
Our first Winter together
Here we are waiting for treats!
Colleen and Caelan at the beach
(I'm in the background!)
(I'm in the background!)
Copyright - A Plowes 2008-2009
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEXT GROUP OF STORIES
IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GREAT, GREAT AUNTY CARLA
26th JULY 1985 - 3rd JANUARY 2002
Her 6th Birthday
After the celebration!
~~~~0~~~~
It was a LEPRECHAUN!
=============
The rest of the story was like a dream.
He put a finger to his lips when he saw the sleeping Caelan, then he looked at me and whispered gently:
"What are you doing up young fella?"
"Oh, SANTA," I gasped in a husky voice. "I wanted to see if you were REALLY TRUE!"
"Well, Sonny, now you KNOW!" he replied with a jovial wink.
I shifted awkwardly on my feet and said sadly:
"I'm sorry we haven't been as good as we should!"
But Santa smiled.
He reminded me of the time I had chased a burglar from the house, even though I got hurt in the attempt, and how Colleen and Caelan had cared lovingly for Audie when she was very sick.
Then he told me to close my eyes while he filled our stockings. I did as he asked.
I opened my eyes just in time to see him reach over and give little Caelan's ears a gentle scratch. She stirred in her sleep and gave a little contented sigh. He quietly moved into the bedroom and looked into Carla's basket. He bent to gently stroke her head, then he took a peek at Colleen as she cuddled into Audie. He smiled and smoothed her golden curls. At last he turned to me, the Man Of The House, and as he shook my paw he whispered:
"Happy Christmas, Liam!" - and then he was gone.
I had actually TALKED with Santa! - and, with his gentle voice still echoing in my ears, I fell asleep beside Caelan, beneath the Christmas Tree.
He put a finger to his lips when he saw the sleeping Caelan, then he looked at me and whispered gently:
"What are you doing up young fella?"
"Oh, SANTA," I gasped in a husky voice. "I wanted to see if you were REALLY TRUE!"
"Well, Sonny, now you KNOW!" he replied with a jovial wink.
I shifted awkwardly on my feet and said sadly:
"I'm sorry we haven't been as good as we should!"
But Santa smiled.
He reminded me of the time I had chased a burglar from the house, even though I got hurt in the attempt, and how Colleen and Caelan had cared lovingly for Audie when she was very sick.
Then he told me to close my eyes while he filled our stockings. I did as he asked.
I opened my eyes just in time to see him reach over and give little Caelan's ears a gentle scratch. She stirred in her sleep and gave a little contented sigh. He quietly moved into the bedroom and looked into Carla's basket. He bent to gently stroke her head, then he took a peek at Colleen as she cuddled into Audie. He smiled and smoothed her golden curls. At last he turned to me, the Man Of The House, and as he shook my paw he whispered:
"Happy Christmas, Liam!" - and then he was gone.
I had actually TALKED with Santa! - and, with his gentle voice still echoing in my ears, I fell asleep beside Caelan, beneath the Christmas Tree.
Hello everyone, my name is Liam and I am a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
I am the MAN OF THE HOUSE here at the Plowes residence in Brisbane, Australia, where I live with my Great, Great Aunty Carla, who is 16, my big Sister Colleen who is three years older than me, - Caelan, who is a year younger, and Audie, our Mum, (and I'm not allowed to tell you how old SHE is! chuckle chuckle! )
I want to tell you a Christmas Story, because it seems a nice place to start. So sit back and relax and imagine fairy lights and carols being sung.
It is CHRISTMAS EVE , and we are going to sit up ALL NIGHT so we can see Santa when he comes. We tried last year, but we all fell asleep, so - this year, I have a plan. I am going to stand guard, and the girls are going to tell spooky stories. THAT ought to keep us awake!
Of course, Audie will go to bed, and so will dear Carla, who is very VERY old, - but we have saved our treats and some chicken sandwiches so we can have a little party while we wait. WOW! What FUN!