A Christmas to Remember- Part II

I awoke today at 5a.m. as usual. I’ve been performing my daily routine so long that I naturally wake up at the same time every day without the use of an alarm. Nikki was sleeping peacefully as I crept out of the bedroom. The fireplace was alive with a warm  glow, and the snow was falling steadily outside the window. Humpy raised his head and wagged his tail. I smiled back at him. As usual he was sleeping in front of the fireplace; it’s always there or in my room.

Walking to the back door, I donned my slush boots and checked the outdoor temperature on the indoor thermometer. It was definitely a cold day and would probably  remain below freezing, but at least it wasn’t below zero. I listened for a moment to the wind howling outside, and then I heard the clicking of Humpy’s nails on the tile floor as he came  to join me in our morning routine. I leaned down, stroked his thick, soft fur and then lovingly shook his head in my hands.  “You have a good night, old boy” I asked in a teasing voice. “Yeah, you old stud…I know you did!” Humpy wagged his tail  happily as if in total agreement, thumping his tail against the freezer we use for extra food storage during the long winter  months. “Shhhh!!!” I hushed him as I opened the door so we could exit without waking the girls.

I closed the door behind  Humpy, who rushed past me into the cold and headed for the warm stables. I turned around a little too fast, and found a large  patch of slippery ice that had formed overnight. After performing a rather unsightly pirhouette, I whacked my head on something hard and the next thing I knew I was lying on my  back in a snowdrift and Humpy’s warm tongue was licking my face. I slowly got back on my feet and rubbed the lump on my aching skull. “Thanks for  the help Humpy…maybe I can repay the debt one day.” I said as I petted his head and started walking towards the barn. Humpy was a good, faithful friend. Without his coming to my rescue I might have easily died in the bitter cold.
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