For Cheryl

Stray dogs ran rampant in Johnson Bottom
Almost as many dogs as children there
People fed them table scraps and let them hang around
Coal camp families all took part in their care 



A big, black dog started hanging 'round one day
And someone there had dubbed him "Midnight"
To everyone else, he was big, loving pet
But to our Shig, he was a fearsome, terrible sight



We never knew why he taunted our little sister
But Midnight chased her every time he saw her
When Shig got away and closed the back gate
He reached through the fence and tried to paw her



I guess the two of them were never meant to bond
Though, goodness knows, many times we all tried
We couldn't get her to go within a foot of that dog
And every day when he chased her, she cried



She was too scared to go to the outhouse by herself
And tended to hide out there after her business was done
Scared out of her wits to come back out that door
She'd throw it open and break into a fast run



We finally came to realize that Midnight was devious
And the dog actually sensed that she was scared
He chased the heck out of her because he knew he could
It seemed to please him to see her all teared



One year at the Church of God Christmas program
They sang, "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
Shig embarrassed us all by wailing and bawling
'Cause she thought the choir was making fun of her



The day came when she must have felt she'd had enough
Instead of running, she stood her ground and shed no tears
I can still remember that long ago winter day
When a meek, little girl faced her fears



Many of us kids stood and watched the whole thing
And we all cheered to see that little girl win
They never did become tried and true best friends
But Midnight never chased our sister again



Kathleen McCoy Eldridge©
October 9, 2007
All Rights Reserved



Cheryl