For a while, I thought this nonfiction book was
titled incorrectly. “Buddy: How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man” by Brian
McGrory should have been titled Harry: How a Dog Made Me a Better Man. Readers
are introduced to Buddy in the first chapter but then the story goes back in
time and features Harry for six more.
In the first chapter, McGrory and fiancée, Pam, are
sleeping in a new home in suburbia. A menagerie of animals resides with the
couple and Pam’s two daughters from a previous marriage. Pam is a veterinarian.
He says it all in the book’s dedication:
“To Pam, Abigail, and Caroline (as well as Baker,
Walter, Charlie, Tigger, Lily, Dolly, Mokey, Lala, Smurf, Chaz, and the
nameless frog – what a house)”
McGrory and Pam are sleeping peacefully when all of
the sudden, Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-doo! In the darkness, McGrory
reaches for the extremely loud alarm clock. He pokes and presses an object
until he figures out where the sound originates.
Cock-a-doodle-doo! The sound is getting closer and
McGrory’s fiancé shoots out of bed with an obscenity. In the darkness she
steadies herself and heads for the door. McGrory follows the sounds of her
footsteps downstairs until he hears the gay barks coming from a relieved
chicken basking in her arms.
The next chapter begins, “The story of this rooster
actually begins with a dog.” To celebrate another successful year of marriage (pre
Pam), McGrory suggests a starter family per custom. He goes online and orders a
golden retriever to surprise his wife on Christmas Eve.
On a cold Tuesday, McGrory arrives at Logan Field at
5:15 p.m. with great excitement. The baggage handlers point him nonchalantly to
a small dog crate in the corner of the hangar. As he approaches, he does not
hear a sound. Even closer and the crate looks to be empty. He has to get right
to the door to see the little 11 week old puppy shaking against the back.
He slowly opens the door, “And there he was, aloft
in front of me, his four legs dangling in midair, his luxuriant blond fur
tousled in a way that would later become his trademark, his jowls loose, his
jet-black nose set off against deep brown eyes that carried a mix of fear and –
I swear I saw this – relief.
Folks, get ready for “Marley and Me” in the form of
a rooster and a little dog.
2 comments:
It sounds kind of funny.
I think you would enjoy it, Jesne! I balled my eyes out in chapter 6, though. Very Marley and Me!
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