A Very Special Event

Why! He could even take the pet mouse - Hope on a short walk. Sometimes, Boon, the budgie would also hitch a ride on Scrif's back. Scrif loved it. He knew how to hold things in his paws when they were thrown at him.He loved playing catch. Like a squirrel, he would hold things between his paws and then mew loudly.

Scrif belonged to the Dohertys - Peter and Georgina and their two kids - four year old Michelle and nine year old Jennifer. The Dohertys had high hopes of Scrif being able to dance well. Both his parents were very good at dancing and so were all his siblings. They were just waiting for him to grow a little older before teaching him how to dance.

He had also learnt to perform cartwheels. It had happened quite accidentally. Scrif had been alone in the hosue - watching TV when he saw a monkey doing cartwheels. That same afternoon, he tried flopping himself on his back and then quickly swinging around just like the monkey had done. The first two times, he just couldn't do a neat cartwheel - but the third time he tried. It came out perfectly!

Scrif dare not exhibit his new found ability to the Dohertys. They were always discouraging him from doing any tricks - even sitting with his paws up in the air. Both Georgina and Peter worried that Scrif's bone and muscle development was not yet complete and he might injure himself.

Scrif had overheard the Dohertys speaking to one another that they would start training him only after he turned two and a half years. For Scrif, that was a long way in time.

Each year in October, the Dohertys had a musical event at their place. The highlight of their celebrations was always a special music programme. Musicians from Tahiti and Christmas Island, aborigine singers from Australia...were just some of the special invitees in past events. This year too, a plan was in place to invite a very disintguished gypsy dancer and singer all the way from Romania. Her name was Katrina Zella.

Both Peter and Georgina were mad music buffs. They were crazy about music and dance. Being talented professionals in the field themselves added to the eminence of the event. The people who came in were always a mixed bunch - celebrities, philanthropists, business people, artists, writers, poets, dancers, journalists and music composers.

Scrif knew all about the plans and was eagerly looking forward to the event. He was excited. He jumped and pranced all around the house - simply delighted with the idea of thinking that he was going to be watching a famous gypsy singer and dancer. That day, he wore a special costume - especially brought for him all the way from Romania - a small embroidered jacket with tinkling bells and lovely mirror work.

The day of the big event dawned. It was expected to start at 6 pm and end by 6.45pm followed by cocktail and dinner. Katrina was the life of that evening. She danced beautifully to the tunes of a lilting melody. The audience watched spellbound. It was 6.30 pm. Katrina stopped to take a break for a few moments. As she turned to walk to the other end, she slipped - spraining her ankle.

For a few moments there was a stunned silence before Katrina continued brightly - " I just need a few minutes. I will be okay ". Absent mindedly she began to strum the guitar - hoping she would really be able to dance that evening.

Scrif who had been watching the event curiously suddenly sprang to the stage and started dancing - the way he had seen his mum and elder brothers dance.

For the remaining 15 minutes, Scrif stood dancing while Katrina strummed the guitar and sang. Without meaning to, Scrif had stolen the show that evening.